We are going to resuscitate an old thread of thought that we started to explore several months ago and are only just now getting back to. Weve been distracted by nearly everything under the hardwood mat sun. Weve looked at ground stabilization structure, the mechanics and physics of mats. Weve dissected the phenomenon (not really a phenomenon, really just simple physics but we are pretty obsessed with hardwood mats, and like an endearing and overinvolved mother, these mats can do no wrong in our eyes) and weve gone deep into some of the less than common uses for ground stabilization. Weve also rehashed and rediscovered some the more common uses for hardwood mats and their cousins and kin. If you dont have the uses of hardwood mats down pat, then you probably havent been following along. So with our course redirected, were going to hop back on the old trail and get after what we were exploring previously, and that is the construction of hardwood mats, crane mats, board roads and rig matting. Many names, but one basic idea sits center stage for each of these varieties of ground stabilization matting, and that is the idea of ground stabilization, plain and simple.

So, we left off weeks ago (probably months ago) with the process of hardwood mat construction. We had looked at how hardwood is graded, the process of milling, and many of the other specifics of the manufacturing process. We are going to recap some of what we have already learned, and explore with greater depth some of the concepts that deserve a little more attention. If you take your super-bionic memory and kick it in to high gear, you might remember that we left off months ago with a question. That question went something like this: what is the fastest growing tree around? The answer, as I am sure all of you have been waiting with bated breath for, is. (drumroll please) Acacia Falcata! If you knew that, you are incredible! (Googling it doesnt count as knowing it, sorry.) If you remembered the question from so many months ago, you are also incredible! What an incredible bunch weve got here! Now, to be honest, the Acacia Falcata tree is not quite a tree, it is more of a shrub, and it also grows quickest in the tropics (one record breaking growth rate was 35 ft in 3 months (source not verified)). In the coming weeks, we are going to look at trees a little more relevant to hardwood mat production, so hang in there.