Customizing pultruded plate to resemble ceramic tiles permits cellular shields to attractively blend into existing architecture. Strongwell has developed a manufacturing process in which 8" x 8" textured grid patterns are added to pultruded plate to match ceramic tile surfaces on modern office buildings. The resulting plate can be mounted on the building to surround the communications antennas and cell site equipment without interfering with the communication signals.

The fiberglass plate is ideal for cellular shielding applications due to its high structural strength and EMI/RFI transparency. Communications companies who are increasingly looking for rooftops of existing buildings for new cell site locations can use this method to ensure that the cell sites are not unsightly.

Two upscale modern office buildings in Bothell, Washington have used the patterned SAFPLATE^® fiberglass gritted plate to match the 8" x 8" ceramic tiles on the original buildings. The owner of the buildings was willing to rent the rooftop space for the antennas to be mounted, provided appropriate cellular screens could be designed to maintain the architectural style and appearance of the buildings. Eighteen 4' x 8' SAFPLATE^® panels with the custom grid pattern were mounted to a fiberglass support structure to cover all four sides and completely shield the antennas. The finished rooftop addition shields the cellular communications equipment and can hardly be distinguished from the existing ceramic tiles on the rest of the buildings.

A growing concern among cities and general locales is the unsightly look of the many cell sites being added to building rooftops. This process provides a lightweight (easy to install), low maintenance solution to the problem.

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