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Secumat® Cell Erosion control geocell

Naue Secumat® Cell erosion control geocell provides permanent slope protection for earthworks, infrastructure and landfill construction

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  • Black perforated geocell strips forming a flexible honeycomb grid Secumat® Cell for ground stabilization.
  • Steep soil embankment reinforced with a black Secumat® Cell grid, with an excavator and construction worker standing at the top under a partly cloudy sky.
  • Black perforated Secumat® grid laid out on a sloped dirt surface for soil stabilization near a grassy area.
  • Secumat® Cell is an erosion control geocell for permanent slope protection in earthworks, landfill construction, infrastructure and hydraulic engineering.
  • Ultrasonically welded PE cell walls form a 3D pocket structure that holds fill in place; perforations allow drainage and root penetration.
  • Available variants include Secumat® Cell 100 with a cell depth of 10 cm and Secumat® Cell 150 with a cell depth of 15 cm.
  • Suitable for slopes up to 50°; compatible with topsoil, sand and crushed stone.
  • DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 (quality management), DIN EN ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management), ASTM-D1693 (stress-cracking resistance)

Secumat® Cell is an erosion control geocell for permanent slope protection against the consequences of erosive precipitation in round-grained or coarser soils. It is installed directly on the slope surface and filled with locally available material - topsoil, sand, or crushed stone. The three-dimensional pocket structure holds the fill in place. The perforated cell walls provide hydraulic coupling between adjacent cells and allow root penetration. The result: a mechanically stable, vegetated slope surface that integrates naturally into the landscape.

Unprotected slopes are vulnerable to surface erosion, groove formation and subsidence - especially during heavy rainfall events or in the construction phase before vegetation establishes. These failures damage infrastructure, endanger slope stability and create expensive repair obligations. Secumat® Cell solves this. The geocell mechanically stabilises the fill material from day one, even before vegetation is established. On steep slopes up to 50°, where conventional erosion mats cannot provide sufficient anchorage, the geocell structure provides the necessary resistance.

Secumat® Cell reduces costs by allowing use of locally available fill material. No special tools or specific technical expertise are required for installation. Sections are connected using the included Secumat® Screw system and fixed to the ground with standard construction steel combined with Secumat® PinCap end caps. This reduces total installed cost compared to imported graded fill solutions.

Secumat® Cell consists of chemically and biologically resistant polyethylene (PE) cell walls ultrasonically connected to form a pocket structure. Cell wall thickness: 1.4 mm ± 10% (ASTM D 5199). Tensile strength: 22.5 kN/m (EN ISO 13426-1). Connection strength: 19.4 kN/m (EN ISO 10319). Stress-cracking resistance tested to ASTM-D1693. Two variants: Cell 100 (10 cm pocket depth, 10 cells/section, section 2.57 m × 7.79 m) and Cell 150 (15 cm pocket depth, 9 cells/section, section 3.18 m × 10.9 m).

Secumat® Cell erosion control geocell functions

  • Erosion control

    Erosion control

    Secumat® Cell protects the slope surface against the erosive energy of precipitation and surface run-off. The geocell structure mechanically anchors the fill material, preventing surface-parallel displacement even during heavy rainfall.

Secumat® Cell erosion control geocell advantages: reliable protection up to 50° slope inclination

  • Slope friction

    Slope inclinations up to 50°

    The best solution where a product secures steep slopes, such as on landfill sites or existing slopes. Exceeds the performance limits of flat erosion mats, which are not suitable for very steep gradients.

  • Costs

    Compatible with any available fill material

    Topsoil, sand, crushed stone - no specialised fill material required. Filling can be selected based on site availability and surface properties. This reduces material procurement costs and truck journeys compared to solutions requiring graded fill.

  • Easy installation

    Fast, tool-free installation

    No special tools required. Sections are connected using the included Secumat® Screw system (screw + nut). Fixing to the ground uses standard on-site construction steel combined with Secumat® PinCap end caps.

  • Biodegradable

    Permanent vegetation establishment

    Perforated cell walls allow roots to grow between cells. Rainwater can pass through the cell structure, avoiding waterlogging. The result: vegetated and soil retention with rapid, long-term integration into the landscape.

  • Function duration

    Durable PE material

    Chemically and biologically resistant polyethylene. High UV stability. Temperature-resistant. Stress-cracking resistance tested to ASTM-D1693. Cell wall thickness: 1.4 mm ± 10% (ASTM D 5199). Long design life for permanent installation.

Application areas

Typical applications:

  • Road and highway embankment slope protection
  • Railway embankment erosion control
  • Cut slopes and fill slopes in infrastructure projects

Secumat® Cell is widely used in road, highway and bridge construction projects to protect embankment slopes against surface erosion. A key advantage in infrastructure applications is that the geocell is compatible with a very wide range of filling materials. On-site topsoil or locally available sand or crushed stone can be used without the need for expensive imported graded fill. This flexibility significantly reduces filling material costs and the number of truck journeys required - both environmental and commercial benefits. On slopes that need to integrate visually into the landscape, Secumat® Cell’s vegetated surface provides a natural appearance within a single growing season.

Advantages for infrastructure slope protection:

  • Suitable for slope inclinations up to 50° - covers the full range of road embankment gradients
  • Fill material flexibility: topsoil, sand, crushed stone - use whatever is most economical on site
  • No special tools required - fast installation with Secumat® Screw and PinCap system
  • Permanent solution: designed for full design life without maintenance requirements
Black perforated Secumat® Cell geocell grid laid out on a sloped dirt surface for soil stabilization near a grassy area.

To the application:

Erosion control

Typical applications:

  • Vegetating and protecting geomembrane (Carbofol®) slopes on landfill sites
  • Protecting GCL (Bentofix®) liner systems on steep landfill slopes
  • Covering systems on closed landfill bodies
  • Securing slope sealing systems on waste disposal sites

On landfill sites, slope protection systems face a dual challenge: the slopes are often steep - frequently exceeding 35° - and the underlying sealing system (geomembrane or GCL) must be protected from mechanical damage while simultaneously providing a stable surface for vegetation. Secumat® Cell can be statically secured and installed close to the surface above the sealing system. The geocell structure distributes point loads across the liner surface, reducing the risk of membrane perforation. The filled cell pockets provide a stable growing medium for vegetation, creating a protective cover that integrates permanently into the landscape. This combination of liner protection and vegetation support in a single product is a key advantage in landfill closure and capping applications.

Advantages for landfill slope protection:

  • Installs close to the surface above geomembranes and GCLs - provides mechanical protection to the liner
  • Suitable for steep landfill slope gradients up to 50°
  • Enables permanent vegetation on slopes where it would not otherwise be possible
Steep soil embankment reinforced with a black Secumat® Cell, with an excavator and construction worker standing at the top under a partly cloudy sky.

To the application:

Erosion control

Technical properties

PropertyUnitSecumat® Cell 100Secumat® Cell 150
Product build-up
Product type—Three-dimensional erosion control geocellThree-dimensional erosion control geocell
Raw material—Polyethylene (PE)Polyethylene (PE)
Colour—BlackBlack
Cell walls—Chemically and biologically resistant solid walls, welded togetherChemically and biologically resistant solid walls, welded together
Cell wall surface—Textured, to improve contact with the soilTextured, to improve contact with the soil
Function of the perforations—Hydraulic coupling of the cellsHydraulic coupling of the cells
Cell geometry
Thickness of cell wall (ASTM D 5199)mm1.41.4
Cell areacm²250.1491
Cell dimensions, width / length / heightcm24.4 / 20.5 / 1034.2 / 28.7 / 15
Number of perforations per cell—4 x 64 x 12
Perforation diametermm2020
Texture depthmm0.30.3
Strength
Tensile strength (EN ISO 13426-1)kN/m22.522.5
Shear strength (EN ISO 13426-1)kN/m12.712.7
Split strength (EN ISO 13426-1)kN/m24.224.2
Connection strengthkN/m19.419.4
Section dimensions and delivery form
Section width x lengthm2.57 x 7.793.18 x 10.9
Section weightkg13.214.3
Connection between sections—Secumat® Screw connecting element (screw and nut), included in the scope of deliverySecumat® Screw connecting element (screw and nut), included in the scope of delivery
Installation and certification
Covering after installation—Within two weeks; immediate covering may be required depending on project conditionsWithin two weeks; immediate covering may be required depending on project conditions
Fixing to the ground—Concrete bar steel supplied by the customer, e.g. B550B, 10 mm ≤ diameter ≤ 18 mm, length = 3 x cell height, with Secumat® PinCap end capsConcrete bar steel supplied by the customer, e.g. B550B, 10 mm ≤ diameter ≤ 18 mm, length = 3 x cell height, with Secumat® PinCap end caps
Management systems—EN ISO 9001:2015, EN ISO 14001:2015EN ISO 9001:2015, EN ISO 14001:2015
Exemplary cross-sectional view of a steep vegetated slope reinforced with Secumat® Cell. The black perforated cell walls retain the fill soil while plant roots grow through the cells into the underlying soil.
Exemplary cross-sectional view of a steep vegetated slope reinforced with Secumat® Cell. The black perforated cell walls retain the fill soil while plant roots grow through the cells into the underlying soil.
Exemplary illustration. Secumat® Cell stabilises fill soil on steep slopes and supports interconnected root growth and long-term vegetation development through its perforated cell walls.
Exemplary illustration. Secumat® Cell stabilises fill soil on steep slopes and supports interconnected root growth and long-term vegetation development through its perforated cell walls.

How 3D geocell pockets improve erosion control on steep slopes

Above roughly 30° to 35°, flat erosion mats reach their limit: slope-parallel erosive forces exceed the friction and cohesion holding the surface fill, and even established vegetation cannot compensate - resulting in creep, slippage and groove formation.

Secumat® Cell converts that slope-parallel force into compression on the cell walls; the fill in each pocket is contained and cannot move horizontally. The walls are ultrasonically connected and permanently joined section by section with the Secumat® Screw connecting element (19.4 kN/m connection strength, EN ISO 10319), with a cell wall tensile strength of 22.5 kN/m (EN ISO 13426-1) - sufficient for inclinations up to 50°.

The perforated walls (20 mm diameter; 24 perforations per cell for Cell 100, 48 for Cell 150) serve two purposes: hydraulic coupling between cells prevents hydrostatic pressure build-up, and root penetration across cell boundaries builds a biological root network that reinforces the system over time. The textured surface (approx. 0.3 mm depth) ensures optimal mechanical contact with the fill.

For slope protection above sealing systems - geomembranes or GCL liners on landfills - Secumat® Cell can be statically secured and installed close to the surface, protecting the liner while establishing vegetation cover.

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Frequently asked questions

Secumat® Cell is an erosion control geocell made from polyethylene (PE). It is a three-dimensional pocket structure installed on slopes to prevent surface erosion and stabilise the fill material. The cell walls are ultrasonically connected. It is used in earthworks, infrastructure construction (roads, highways, bridges), landfill slope protection and hydraulic engineering. The geocell allows a wide variety of filling materials (topsoil, sand, crushed stone) and supports rapid vegetation establishment. Available in two variants: Cell 100 (10 cm pocket depth, 10 cells/section) and Cell 150 (15 cm pocket depth, 9 cells/section).

The supply and installation price for Secumat® Cell depends on the project-specific slope area, inclination, fill material availability and access conditions. Contact Naue GmbH & Co. KG directly for a project-specific quotation via the button below.

Secumat® Cell is a three-dimensional geocell product - it creates a pocket structure that physically contains the fill material. This makes it the correct choice for steep slope inclinations up to 50° and applications above sealing systems on landfill sites. A flat Secumat® erosion mat (e.g. Secumat® 601, Secumat® G4) is a two-dimensional product designed for slopes with lower inclinations (up to approx. 35°) and drainage channels, where surface friction and root integration are sufficient for long-term erosion protection.

Use Secumat® Cell 100 (10 cm pocket depth, section 2.57 m × 7.79 m, 10 cells/section) for standard slope protection applications where a moderate fill depth is required. Use Secumat® Cell 150 (15 cm pocket depth, section 3.18 m × 10.9 m, 9 cells/section) for applications requiring greater fill depth - for example, above geomembrane or GCL sealing systems on landfill sites, or where a deeper growing medium is needed for robust vegetation establishment. Both variants have identical tensile, peel/shear, split and connection strength values.

On slopes above approximately 35°, the dominant design parameter for erosion control is not tensile strength but the ability of the product structure to mechanically contain the fill. A flat erosion mat relies on friction and root integration. A geocell relies on cell wall geometry to resist slope-parallel fill displacement. Secumat® Cell’s pocket structure physically prevents fill movement up to 50° - a performance level that flat mats cannot achieve regardless of tensile strength. This is why geocell geometry (cell dimensions, cell wall thickness, connection strength) is the critical specification, not tensile strength alone.

Secumat® Cell enables use of locally available fill materials, reducing the need for imported graded fill and the associated truck journeys. Rapid vegetation establishment provides long-term reinforcement and landscape integration. The PE material has a long design life, avoiding repeat installation.

Secumat® Cell is produced under a DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certified quality management system and a DIN EN ISO 14001:2015 certified environmental management system. Stress-cracking resistance is tested to ASTM-D1693. Cell wall thickness is verified to ASTM D 5199. Mechanical strength values are determined to EN ISO 13426-1 and EN ISO 10319.

Secumat® Cell is extremely stable yet flexible. The PE material is stress-cracking resistant (ASTM-D1693) and can be cut to length on site. Sections are connected using the included Secumat® Screw system (screw plus nut). No special tools are required. The product must be covered with fill material within two weeks of installation. For Cell 100, 10 fixings per section are preinstalled (spaced at 20 cm); for Cell 150, 9 fixings (spaced at 30 cm). The Secumat® PinCap system provides high system security via a large connecting surface area on the cell walls.

Secumat® Cell 100 sections measure 2.57 m wide × 7.79 m long (cell depth 10 cm, 10 cells/section). Secumat® Cell 150 sections measure 3.18 m wide × 10.9 m long (cell depth 15 cm, 9 cells/section). Section weights: Cell 100 = 13.2 kg; Cell 150 = 14.3 kg. Other variants are available on request - contact Naue GmbH & Co. KG for project-specific dimensions.

Secumat® Cell is designed and tested to the following standards: ASTM D 5199 (cell wall thickness), EN ISO 13426-1 (tensile strength, peel/shear strength, split strength), EN ISO 10319 (connection strength), ASTM-D1693 (stress-cracking resistance), DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 (quality management), DIN EN ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management). Geosynthetic function classification follows DIN EN ISO 10318.

Yes. Naue GmbH & Co. KG provides technical support for Secumat® Cell specifications, including product selection (Cell 100 vs. Cell 150), filling material recommendations, installation guidelines and anchoring system design. Contact the Naue’s Engineering & Design Department (EDD) via the project request form or by email.

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