Lead is a perfect material for every ballast job. With its 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.
Here are just a few of the industries that use lead ballast for stability, balance or protection.
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!
Since 2018 Midland Lead has supplied lead off-cuts to Shore Cast Solent, a UK-based manufacturer of quality injection moulded products and fishing weights. Lead off-cuts are a by-product from lead rolls being cut to a customer’s specification. They are either recycled back into our kettles or sold to customers for a variety of applications – in this case, for high quality fishing weights.
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.
Did you know that lead is a virtually 100% recycled material? We take great pride in producing an environmentally sustainable product which will outlast other man-made alternatives, and potentially be re-used again and again.
Did you know that lead is a virtually 100% recycled material? We take great pride in producing an environmentally sustainable product which will outlast other man-made alternatives, and potentially be re-used again and again.
For the good of the environment, as well as your own back pocket, you want to design something that lasts and is good quality, whether traditional or contemporary in style. I would be happy to recommend Midland Lead to the people I work with
We really can provide lead ballast in any configuration, right up to several tonnes in weight. And if you need any help assessing just how much you need, you can talk to an expert on +44 (0) 1283 224 555 and we’ll help you work it out.
Over the years, we’ve acquired a good feel for what kind of ballast material works best in different applications – and how much ballast is required.
“Midland Lead have been great to work with! From the first contact, there's a good feel about the company. They follow through on what they say, and they follow through on the costings. And they supply product on the day they specify”
