Ballast |

Lead ballast and weights for every job

With lead’s incredible high density, you can use a much smaller quantity than other equivalent materials, to achieve the same counter-balancing effect. Particularly useful where weight is needed in small spaces, such as in the hulls of sailboats or yachts, or in submarines to control buoyancy.

Lead is easy to cast or mould into any shape. Balls, bars, blocks, castings – you name the shape, size and weight and we can supply it to your exact requirements!

Lead ballast is used in the keels of sailboats and yachts, to provide stability and prevent capsizing. The heavy weight of lead lowers the boat’s centre of gravity, improving its stability in the water. Lead ballast is also used in submarines to control buoyancy.

Lead ballast is used for aircraft balancing, to adjust the aeroplane’s centre of gravity and help it to remain stable in flight. In spacecraft, lead ballast is used to balance and stabilise components, ensuring they function correctly during launch and operation.

Lead ballast can improve traction and balance of high-performance cars, by distributing weight effectively. In motorsports, lead ballast is used in race cars to help them meet minimum weight requirements, or to fine-tune vehicle handling.

Lead ballast is widely used as counterweight in construction equipment such as cranes or lifts (elevators), to balance heavy loads and ensure safe operation. Lead ballast is also used for vibration dampening and to reduce noise, particularly in heavy machinery and large structures.

Lead ballast is used by the nuclear industry to shield against radiation – it effectively blocks and absorbs radiation due to its high density and atomic number. Our lead-lined boards are also used for radiation protection in the medical, dentistry and veterinary applications.

The mining industry uses lead ballast as counterweights in lift shafts. Lead also supports the ore separation process - the density of lead helping in the gravitational separation process, in extracting valuable minerals from ore.

Lead ballast is used in ballistic testing and armour systems due to its density and ability to absorb impact. Lead is also used in military vehicles where a secure counterweight helps to ensure secure torque and stability, even over rough terrain and in treacherous conditions.

The entertainment industry uses lead ballast as counterweights, to stabilise and balance stage equipment e.g. lighting rigs. Lead ballast is even used in the film industry to create realistic weight and movement in props and animatronics!

Ballast case studies

Lead off-cuts supplied to fishing industry via Shore Cast Solent

Since 2018 Midland Lead has been supplying lead off-cuts to Shore Cast Solent, a UK-based manufacturer of quality injection moulded products, fresh water and sea fishing weights which are used across UK and Europe. Lead off-cuts are a by-product from lead rolls being cut to a customer’s specification. With our strong commitment to sustainability and recycling, lead off-cuts are either recycled back into our kettles or sold to customers for a variety of applications – in this case, for high quality fishing weights.

Working with companies like Shore Cast Solent ensures nothing in our manufacturing process goes to waste and lead off-cuts can be used by other innovative companies who share our commitment to sustainable manufacturing.
Ballast for marine industry

Midland Lead has supplied 150 tonnes of lead fills to Hydrus, a leading service solutions company based in Aberdeen, U.K. In the marine industry, lead can be used as ballast counterweights for a range of applications including mini submarines, offshore oil rigs or wind turbines. Our marine customers typically supply custom moulds for us to fill – these are steel plated and then returned to the customer for incorporation into a specific application.
Ballast for construction

Midland Lead is pleased to work with CMS Cepcor, Europe's leading manufacturer and supplier of crusher, screen & asphalt plant parts. In this application we fill rings supplied by CMS Cepcor with a small amount of lead. These go into large quarry machinery to provide counterbalance in mass scale industrial machinery.
Lead offcuts for oil and gas industry

Midland Lead has supplied Mackeller Engineering with 100 tonnes of lead offcuts – refined material which is 99.7% pure lead. Lead offcuts are typically melted down and made into fishing weights, marine ballast or other counterweight applications for the marine, oil and gas industries.