Custom Timber Mats – was revised on December 31, 2025

When Standard Mats Are Not Enough

Sometimes a standard timber mat will not fit the job, the crane pad, or the laydown yard. Custom timber mats let you match mat design to exact loads, geometry, and site constraints while still controlling Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) with strong, consistent Eucalyptus timber mats.

Custom designs are especially useful when you need non‑standard sizes, special cut‑outs, or integrated hardware for handling in tight spaces. In these situations, stronger species and precise manufacturing matter more than ever.

Why Eucalyptus Works For Custom Timber Mats

Eucalyptus is significantly stronger than typical mixed hardwood blends used in many conventional mats. That higher strength allows Eucalyptus custom timber mats to match or exceed the performance of thicker mixed hardwood designs while often being thinner and lighter.

Because Eucalyptus timber mats are engineered and manufactured to tight tolerances:

  • Strength is predictable across the mat, not dependent on luck of the log or grade mix.
  • You can design custom thicknesses to hit specific bending and shear targets.
  • You often gain freight and handling advantages from thinner, lighter custom mats.

The Eucalyptus timber mats basics page explains how single‑species, plantation‑grown Eucalyptus supports consistent, high‑strength custom designs.

Strength Examples For Custom Thickness

Custom timber mats often start with a simple question: “Can Eucalyptus match the strength of my current mixed hardwood thickness?” In many cases, the answer is yes—with less thickness than you might expect.

Two illustrative examples:

  • A 10‑inch Eucalyptus mat has approximately the same bending strength as a 14-18″ mixed hardwood mat.
  • If a 12‑inch mixed hardwood mat is not enough, a 12‑inch Eucalyptus mat can deliver an equivalent mixed hardwood thickness of roughly 17-20″.

These relationships show how custom Eucalyptus thickness can be tuned to match or exceed existing mixed hardwood designs while often saving weight and freight. The Strength Adjusted guidance walks through how to set these equivalences for specific applications.

Custom mats - Eucalyptus Half mats
Custom mats - Eucalyptus Outrigger Mats

Examples Of Custom Timber Mats In The Field

Here are two simple, but common, custom timber mats that Eucalyptus handles well:

Half Mats For Dunnage

  • Shorter, half‑length mats used as “dunnage” to store components off the ground.
  • Keep blades, tower sections, transformers, or other components clean and accessible.
  • Benefit from Eucalyptus strength and stiffness even at reduced length.

Custom Outrigger Crane Mat Pads

  • Pads sized and shaped to fit crane outrigger footprints for very heavy lifts.
  • Designed to distribute load effectively in limited space, including near foundations or structures.
  • Often include built‑in handling features for tight sites.

In both cases, Eucalyptus custom timber mats provide strong, uniformly manufactured platforms that can be reused across projects. The benefits of Eucalyptus timber mats for ground protection explain how these advantages show up in safety, lifespan, and TCO.

Handling Features For Tight Sites

Custom mats are often used in congested yards, substations, or urban settings where access is limited. In those environments, safe handling is as important as strength.

Many custom Eucalyptus timber mats incorporate:

  • Straps or engineered lift points to handle mats in tight quarters.
  • Configurations that minimize pinch points and awkward rigging.
  • Standardized sizes that stack and store efficiently between projects.

These handling features reduce damage and improve safety, which helps maintain mat lifespan and supports lower Total Cost of Ownership over time.

How Custom Mats Fit Into TCO And Design Strategy

Custom timber mats should still be evaluated through a TCO lens. With Eucalyptus, you can often design thinner mats at equivalent strength, gain mats per truck, and maintain or improve lifespan compared with mixed hardwood customs.

When planning custom Eucalyptus timber mats:

  • Start with loads, soils, and footprint constraints.
  • Use strength‑adjusted thickness instead of simply copying older mixed hardwood dimensions.
  • Consider handling features and storage to protect lifespan and reduce damage.

The TCO and TCO videos pages show how lifespan and freight interact with strength to define total cost, even for custom designs. The learning center includes more articles and guides on Eucalyptus timber mats and their use in specialized applications.

Next Steps

If a standard mat does not fit your application, custom Eucalyptus timber mats can provide the strength, geometry, and handling you need while keeping TCO under control. Designs can range from simple half mats for dunnage to complex outrigger pads for critical heavy lifts.

For project‑specific custom timber mat designs, request a quote with your loads, desired dimensions, and site constraints. If you prefer to explore options first, contact us to discuss how Eucalyptus timber mats can be customized for your fleet while lowering Total Cost of Ownership on upcoming projects.