At Ritter Forest Products, we’ve supplied our customers with high-quality crane mats and other mats and pads for more than 30 years. We use only the best cuts of hardwood to create our mats, and build our durable and reliable platforms that are perfect for a wide range of job sites. One question we often get, though, is what kind of hardwoods are used in creating these mats.
Each mat is uniquely built, with planing and cutting to fit the individual mat size and use needs. For most mats, they are a hardwood comprised primarily of oak. Our rental fleet consists of ALL oaks mats, built whenever the wood is available. Whether our heavy-duty crane mats, which are built for use with large machinery or heavy equipment, or our more versatile three-ply laminated mats that offer a lightweight option for your job site, the type of wood is crucial.
Every cut of wood acts differently when exposed to the elements and pressure. Oak mats are very stable and offer great durability. For example, oak mats are ideal in situations where you will be using matting as a temporary access road that spans a small gap or waterway, offering greater inflexibility versus mats constructed from other wood varieties (i.e. fir, pine).
At Ritter Forest, we can also create specific custom cut sizes and wood timbers for your project’s unique needs and applications. If you’re looking for a lighter solution, a more durable hardwood or fresh-cut timbers in larger or shorter lengths than are available in our standard sizes, let us work on designing a perfect solution for you. Contact us today for more information on any of our standard or customized mat solutions.
