Ski lift and cable-car installations in alpine and glacier terrain are often founded in ice which is exposed to solar radiation and heavy foot traffic. Naue GlacierProtect - an insulating, highly reflective nonwoven made from Secutex® Green, certified biodegradable* and compostable by TÜV Austria - reduces ice melt, helps secure your foundations, and provides a robust, slip-resistant surface at lift entry and exit points.
Naue GlacierProtect is deployed wherever lift-installation stability, infrastructure longevity and skier safety matter.
Helps preserve foundation stability by slowing ice melt
Shield cable-car and lift footings set in ice from solar radiation
Protect lift infrastructure on summer-skiing glaciers
The structural stability of ski lift masts is critical for safety. Naue GlacierProtect can be strategically placed around mast bases to minimise the thawing. Its reflective properties deflect direct sunlight, helping to keep the ground frozen and stable for longer periods - important for maintaining the integrity of lift structures under changing weather conditions. Supports founded in ice can likewise be shielded from excessive solar radiation, extending the service life of these facilities.
Practical benefits:
GlacierProtect is made entirely from Secutex® Green, a mechanically bonded nonwoven produced from renewable raw materials. It is certified biodegradable and compostable by TÜV Austria - OK compost (HOME and INDUSTRIAL) and OK biodegradable (WATER, SOIL and MARINE) - and conforms to EN 13432. In an open environment, biodegradation proceeds at a rate that depends on temperature, pH, and microbial activity. The cellulose-based nonwoven degrades into biomass, CO2 and water; the rate of biodegradation depends on temperature, pH and microbial activity.
| Scenario | Recommended use |
|---|---|
| Mast/tower base founded in ice | GlacierProtect laid around the base, to help keep the ice frozen and stable. |
| Supports founded in ice | GlacierProtect over sensitive ice areas to delay melt and protect the footings. |
| Lift entry / exit zone | GlacierProtect as a robust, slip-resistant standing surface for skiers and snowboarders. |
| High wind exposure | Additional ballast bags plus on-site sewing; rely on freeze-on adhesion to the snow. |
Longer infrastructure life
Reflecting solar radiation reduces ice melt around mast bases supporting foundation stability. Shielding ice- founded supports from solar radiation, extends service life.
Safer lift areas
Robust, slip-resistant surface reduces the risk of falls at entry and exit points.
Certified biodegradable*
Certified biodegradable* and compostable (TÜV Austria, EN 13432), suitable for use in sensitive alpine environments.
Simple installation and reuse
Rolled out and sewn on-site; reusable across seasons where reflectivity is retained.
The Naue GlacierProtect geotextile is placed around the mast base, where its reflective surface deflects direct sunlight and its thickness insulates the ground. This slows melting of the surrounding ice, helping to keep the ground stable for longer and to maintain the structural integrity of the mast.
Naue GlacierProtect is an insulating, highly reflective nonwoven made from Secutex® Green, which is certified biodegradable and compostable by TÜV Austria. shield ice-founded supports,and provide a slip-resistant surface at lift entry and exit points.
Yes. The robust, slip-resistant nonwoven provides a safe standing surface at the entry and exit points of ski lifts, reducing the risk of falls and accidents - particularly valuable in busy resorts with high guest throughput.
Yes. The supports of cable cars and ski lifts founded in ice can be protected from excessive solar radiation with GlacierProtect, helping to extend the service life of these infrastructure facilities.
It is rolled out over the ground or snow and adjacent sheets are sewn together on-site using machines suitable for thick nonwovens, including battery-powered units. Ballast-filled bags secure the perimeter, and once the nonwoven freezes onto the snow the risk of wind uplift is reduced. The sewing thread is fully biodegradable.
GlacierProtect has a standard mass per unit area of 500 g/m² and a roll width of 4 metres. Other weights and widths are available on request. Contact Naue for project-specific recommendations.
GlacierProtect is made from renewable raw materials and is certified biodegradable* and compostable by TÜV Austria (OK compost and OK biodegradable; EN 13432). It is designed so that residues ultimately biodegrade rather than persisting in the environment; the rate in the open environment depends on temperature, pH and microbacterial activity.
Yes. Because biological activity is low in these applications, repeated use can generally be assumed. When soiling reduces reflectivity too far, the nonwoven should be replaced; used material can be composted, thermally recycled or covered with soil.
Naue GlacierProtect is certified biodegradable* and compostable by TÜV Austria - OK compost (HOME and INDUSTRIAL) and OK biodegradable (WATER, SOIL and MARINE) - and conforms to EN 13432. It is also UV-stable for outdoor use in high-mountain conditions.
