Coastal protection – Flexible and proven with Geotextile Sand Containers (GSCs)

Smart, scalable and sustainable defence systems for coastlines at risk – with Secutex® Soft Rock from Naue

The challenge: Coastal areas under threat

Storm surges, heavy rainfall, and sea level rise are increasing due to climate change. Coastal zones are particularly vulnerable to flooding and erosion. Without effective protection, infrastructure and habitats are at high risk.

Our Response: Geotextile Sand Containers

Naue provides a flexible and field-tested solution: Secutex® Soft Rock geotextile sand containers (GSCs). These are installed as a revetment to stabilise coasts, dunes, riverbanks or embankments – protecting them from erosion and scour caused by high hydraulic loads.

Key benefits:

  • High flexibility and robustness
  • Easy to install, using local sand as fill
  • Cost-effective and environmentally compatible
  • UV-resistant and proven in real-world applications

Download the whitepaper – Free of charge

Our whitepaper highlights how Secutex® Soft Rock combines structural resilience with environmental compatibility.
Explore technical background, real-life examples and practical insights.

Free PDF – Expert insights – Field-tested solutions

Our Secutex® Soft Rock product family – Soft solutions for hard coastal protection

Secutex® Soft Rock is a product family of geotextile sand containers (GSC) specially developed for use in coastal, scour and erosion control. Made from needle-punched Secutex® nonwovens, they combine protection, flexibility and durability – with reduced CO₂ emissions and the option of being filled with local sand.

Secutex® Soft Rock Smart

Our smart all-rounder:
Featuring integrated closure technology – no tools or specialist personnel required. Easy and fast to install.

Secutex® Soft Rock Grand

Maximum size – maximum durability:
2.5 m³ volume, abrasion-resistant double-layer nonwoven, robust double seams, and rounded corners. Ideal for high hydraulic loads.

Secutex® Green Soft Rock

Our sustainable variant:
Made from fully biodegradable fibres – perfect for ecologically sensitive areas such as dunes, rivers or restored coastal zones.

Your advantages at a glance

  • Precise placement – Dimensioning with Naue SoftRock design software ensures targeted, secure installation
  • Adaptable – Can be seamlessly integrated into existing coastal defence systems
  • Storm-resistant – Engineered to withstand strong hydraulic forces and wave impact without structural damage
  • Nature-compatible – Supports sedimentation and integrates into natural coastal morphology
  • Cost-efficient – Requires less maintenance and fewer repairs than conventional revetments

Applications in practice

  • Dune and shoreline stabilisation
  • Riverbank and embankment protection
  • Temporary or permanent revetments
  • Scour protection at bridge piers and seawalls
  • Emergency response after erosion events

Proven worldwide – Successful use in practice.

From the North Sea to the tropics, Secutex® Soft Rock has been successfully deployed in a wide variety of hydraulic engineering and coastal protection projects – ensuring safety, flexibility and sustainability.

House „Kliffende“, Sylt Island, Germany – Cliff collapse following storm surges in 1999/2000 (built in 1990) – construction still intact and fully effective

North Sea project: Protection of a severely eroding dune for more than 35 years – withstood many storm surges without damage.

Embankment stabilisation, Singapore

Singapore project: Erosion control along an urban coastline – significant stabilisation

Coastal protection and flood defence in Scharbeutz, Germany

Germany project: Coastal erosion protection – Maintenance costs reduced by 40 %.

Hydraulic engineering along the Regent Hotel, Hua Hin, Thailand

Thailand project: Coastal protection – long-term cost reduction achieved.

Your Project – Our Solution

Coastal regions face increasing pressure from storm surges and erosion.

Secutex® Soft Rock geotextile sand containers provide a proven, adaptable and environmentally conscious solution. By absorbing wave energy and stabilising shorelines, they help reduce damage, minimise maintenance costs and contribute to long-term coastal resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Geotextile sand containers (GSCs) are robust, sand-filled bags made from high-strength nonwoven geotextile materials. They are filled on site with locally available sand and installed as a flexible revetment or stabilising structure. When placed along coasts, embankments or riverbanks, they absorb hydraulic forces from waves, currents and storm surges. This significantly reduces erosion, scouring and structural damage. Their flexibility allows them to adapt to terrain and ground movement while maintaining protective integrity.

Secutex® Soft Rock stands out due to its:

  • Custom-engineered nonwoven structure, offering high resistance to UV exposure, abrasion and hydraulic loads
  • Modular system with three variants (Smart, Grand, Green) for different hydraulic and ecological demands
  • Tool-free installation with integrated closure in the Smart variant
  • Environmentally compatible solutions, including a biodegradable version for sensitive ecosystems
  • Proven global performance in storm-exposed and high-energy environments

Secutex® Soft Rock is successfully used in:

  • Coastal and dune reinforcement to prevent shoreline retreat
  • Scour protection around piers, breakwaters, and seawalls
  • Riverbank and canal embankment stabilisation
  • Construction of temporary or permanent revetments
  • Restoration of eroded areas after storm events
  • Integration into hybrid or nature-based coastal defence concepts

It is suitable for both long-term infrastructure protection and fast-response emergency measures.

Secutex® Soft Rock Smart

  • Compact GSC with integrated closure system
  • No tools or specialist staff required
  • Ideal for quick deployment and mobile use

Secutex® Soft Rock Grand

  • Large-scale GSC (up to 2.5 m³ volume)
  • Double-layer abrasion-resistant nonwoven
  • Rounded corners and reinforced seams for high wave energy zones

Secutex® Green Soft Rock

  • Made from fully biodegradable natural fibres
  • Designed for sensitive areas: dunes, wetlands, ecological restoration sites
  • Offers temporary protection while supporting natural regeneration

The standard containers are made from needle-punched Secutex® nonwoven polypropylene, a durable, UV-stable and hydrodynamically efficient material.

The Green version uses biodegradable, plant-based fibres that naturally decompose without leaving harmful residues – ideal for compliance with strict environmental regulations.

Installation is easy and adaptable:

  • The containers are filled on site with local sand – no special type of sand is required.
  • The smart version can be closed manually with integrated flaps – no sewing required.
  • The filled GSCs are placed with an excavator.
  • In most cases, no concrete foundations or heavy equipment are required.

This allows for quick mobilisation, even in remote or challenging conditions

Flexibility: GSCs adjust to settlement or terrain shifts

Fast installation: No formwork, concrete or curing times

Lower maintenance: Individual units can be replaced if needed

Cost-effective: Reduces logistics, labour, material and repair expenses

Environmentally preferable: No leaching materials, supports sedimentation

Aesthetically natural: Blends into the landscape and can be overgrown or buried

Yes. Naue provides a dedicated SoftRock software tool that enables engineers and designers to:

  • Calculate required dimensions and GSC quantities
  • Model hydraulic loads and slope conditions
  • Design layered revetments for different risk levels
  • Integrate Soft Rock into existing flood and erosion protection schemes

This ensures technical accuracy and compliance with project requirements.

Secutex® Soft Rock is widely used and accepted in international coastal and hydraulic engineering practice. It is specified in public tenders, government-funded coastal projects, and complies with international standards for geosynthetics in erosion control. Documentation, certificates and technical datasheets are available upon request.

Download the whitepaper – Free of charge

Our whitepaper highlights how Secutex® Soft Rock combines structural resilience with environmental compatibility.
Explore technical background, real-life examples and practical insights.

Free PDF – Expert insights – Field-tested solutions