is commonly thought that bigger is better with access mats, but it is important that the mats can be shipped by standard means. 7.5’ x 14’ composite mats, for example, will fit into an ISO container. Examples of composite materials used in access matting include: Fibreglass Fibreglass offers high strength, long-term durability and is light weight. Rubber Rubber mats evolved by industries seeking sustainable products made from recycled materials. The rubber crumb recycled from scrap tires is a primary petroleum based material. Depending on the site soil conditions, there are various thicknesses of mats that can be manufactured. The base material of the rubber mat is crumb rubber, urethane, and fibre from recycled motor vehicle tires. The production of one typical mat uses up to 350 tires which makes the product environmentally friendly. The mats are moulded into conventional 8’x14’ sections and the body has an embedded patented rigid spine which makes each mat extremely durable and virtually indestructible. The surface is textured and designed to provide excellent traction for all types of traffic and have been proven to be a viable and economical solution for long term use under some of the most unruly site conditions and usages across North America. They are effective when used as access roads, heli-pads, laydown areas, wash pads or sidewalks. Rubber mats are also known as blast mats in the mining industry. Plastic (HDPE) Engineered, hollow rig matting systems may be made up of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). When compared to traditional wooden matting, composite mats are lighter in weight yet still can handle heavy loads. Plastic (UHMWPE) This solid plastic, UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), offers the highest impact strength while being highly resistant to corrosive chemicals. Solid, one-piece compression moulded mats are made from recycled or virgin (HDPE) as well as recycled or virgin Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Solid mats are lighter in weight than hollow mats but due to the simpler connection system provide the same or similar usable working surface area per mat once connected (10’ x 8’, 13.5’ x 6.5’). Typically this means that a significantly greater number of solid mats can be loaded onto a truck resulting in a number of key benefits including larger working surface area per truckload, reduced number of transport trips per project, reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions per project, and reduced transport costs per project. A simple connection system,