As a UK lead ballast manufacturer for marine and offshore engineering, Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd supplies lead ingots, lead pellets, lead ballast blocks, lead ballast rod, lead counterweights and bespoke cast lead components to yacht builders, ship constructors, subsea contractors and offshore engineering firms across the UK and worldwide.
Manufactured in-house at our Rotherham facility from over 250 years of metallurgical experience, our marine lead products provide the high-density, corrosion-resistant performance demanded by marine, offshore and subsea applications.
Lead is the chosen material for marine ballast because of its high density of 11,340 kg/m³ — far greater than concrete, iron, steel or water — which delivers compact weight solutions where space is constrained and stability is critical. As a specialist lead ballast manufacturer UK firms turn to for bespoke marine engineering work, our range covers four principal product types: lead ingots and pellets for general ballasting, lead ballast blocks and bars for keels and large-scale ballasting, lead ballast rod for subsea umbilical weighting, and bespoke lead castings and counterweights for project-specific marine engineering applications.
Lead Ingots & Pellets
Standard 5kg–50kg lead ingots and bagged lead pellets for yacht ballast, boat ballast and general marine weight applications.
Ballast Blocks & Bars
Extruded and cast lead ballast bars and blocks for ship, boat and yacht keels — from grams to several tonnes.
Subsea & Bespoke
Lead ballast rod for sub-sea umbilical systems and bespoke cast lead counterweights for offshore engineering.
Lead Ingots for Marine Ballast
Lead ingots are the simplest form of lead ballast and the standard starting point for most marine weighting applications. Heaps, Arnold & Heaps manufactures lead ingots from pure lead and lead alloy compositions, supplied in a range of standard weights to suit yacht ballasting, boat ballasting and bulk marine weight requirements.
Our standard lead ingot range covers six weight specifications, with bespoke ingot weights and dimensions produced to customer specification.
– Lead ingots 5kg– Lead ingots 50kg
Lead Pellets for Ballast & Filler
Lead pellets are an alternative or complement to lead ingots, particularly suited to filling air space within ballast containers, packing voids around lead ingots, lead blocks or lead bar, or as a standalone ballast material in fabricated weight containers. Lead pellets are widely used in marine applications for ballasting models, filling dive weight pouches, sub-sea ballast packing and counterweight filling. Supplied in pre-bagged weights to simplify project handling and minimise wastage.
– Lead pellets 5kg bag
– Lead pellets 10kg bag
– Lead pellets 15kg bag
– Lead pellets 20kg bag
– Lead pellets 25kg bag
Lead Ballast Blocks & Bars for Marine Keels
Lead ballast blocks and lead ballast bars are extruded or cast lead products manufactured to customer specification, ranging from grams through to several tonnes per unit. Lead ballast blocks and bars are the ideal lead ballast solution where uniform size matters — their consistent dimensions allow for easy and compact stacking, making them widely specified for ship keels, boat keels and yacht keels.
We extrude and cast lead ballast blocks and bars in pure lead and lead alloys, with dimensions, weights and profiles matched to the keel cavity, ballast tray or fabricated container specified by the marine engineer or yacht builder.
Cast lead ballast
- Custom weights from grams to several tonnes
- Cast to fabricated container or mould
- Pure lead and lead alloy options
- Suitable for yacht keels and ballast trays
Extruded lead ballast
- Uniform bar dimensions for compact stacking
- Variable length and cross-section
- Pure lead and lead alloy options
- Suitable for ship and boat keel installations
Lead Ballast Rod for Subsea Umbilical Systems
Lead ballast rod is a specialist marine product used in the manufacture of sub-sea umbilical systems as a lead ballast or filler weight component. By incorporating lead ballast rod within umbilical assemblies, subsea contractors achieve the negative buoyancy needed to keep umbilicals correctly positioned on the seabed.
Our lead ballast rod is available in any diameter to suit your umbilical specification, with or without a central core, and can be supplied coiled or wound in lengths or weights matched to your project. The compact density of lead makes it ideal for umbilical applications where every millimetre of cross-sectional space is critical.
Lead counterweights and bespoke lead castings are manufactured to customer specification for marine and offshore engineering projects of every scale.Lead counterweights range from as little as a few grams through to several tonnes, with applications including:
– Lead ballast for yachts
– Lead ballast for boats
– Lead ballast for canal boats and barges
– Lead ballast for marine keels
– Lead counterweights for cranes and lifting equipment
– Lead counterweights for construction machinery
– Lead ballast for scale testing – Lead filling for counterweight shells
For projects where standard product lines don’t suit the cavity, container or balance requirement, we offer molten lead pours directly into fabricated metal boxes or containers supplied by the customer.
Working with our sister company Starweld Engineering, we can also provide a complete fabrication-and-fill service — supplying both the steel container and the lead ballast as a single solution.
Send drawings, samples or container specifications — our metallurgical and engineering team will recommend the optimum manufacturing approach and quote within one working day.
Why Choose a UK Manufacturer for
Marine Lead Products
High-density solution
Lead's 11,340 kg/m³ density delivers compact ballast solutions where concrete, iron, steel or water cannot meet the weight requirement in the available space.
Bespoke capability
In-house extrusion, casting and machining for one-off counterweights, custom keel ballast and project-specific marine engineering components.
Faster lead times
UK manufacturing with stock-held standard ingots and pellets. Bespoke ballast blocks, rods and counterweights typically supplied within two to three weeks.
Fabrication Service
Working with our sister company Starweld Engineering, we can supply complete fabricated-and-filled ballast containers as a single project solution.
Bespoke Lead Manufacturing for Marine Engineering
We manufacture lead products for marine and offshore engineering to meet specific project requirements — whether you’re building a new yacht, retrofitting ballast to an existing vessel, manufacturing subsea umbilicals or specifying counterweights for offshore lifting equipment. Our production capabilities allow us to supply lead ingots, pellets, ballast blocks, ballast rod and bespoke castings in dimensions, weights and alloys matched to your project.
For complex specifications we can review drawings, recommend alloy alternatives and suggest manufacturing approaches that reduce lead time or cost without compromising performance.
Find out more about our wider lead product range and manufacturing capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marine Lead Products
Why is lead used for marine ballast?
Lead's exceptional density of 11,340 kg/m³ makes it the chosen material for marine ballast where concrete, iron, steel or water cannot deliver the weight required within the available space. This is particularly critical in yacht keels, ship trim ballast and counterweight applications where compact weight is essential.
What lead ingot weights do you supply?
Standard lead ingots are supplied in 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 20kg, 25kg and 50kg sizes. Bespoke ingot weights and dimensions can be produced to customer specification, in pure lead, tin/lead, antimony/lead and other alloy compositions.
Do you supply lead ballast for yacht keels?
Yes. We manufacture lead ballast blocks and bars for ship, boat and yacht keels, in extruded and cast forms. Custom weights from grams through to several tonnes per unit, in pure lead and lead alloy compositions. Send your keel cavity drawings or weight specification and we'll quote.
Can you supply lead ballast rod for subsea umbilicals?
Yes. Our extrusion facility produces lead ballast rod in any diameter, with or without a central core, supplied coiled or wound in lengths or weights to suit your subsea umbilical project. Lead ballast rod is widely used to maintain negative buoyancy in subsea umbilical systems.
Do you offer fabricated ballast containers?
Yes. Working with our sister company Starweld Engineering, we can offer molten lead pours directly into fabricated metal boxes or containers — either supplied by the customer or fabricated by Starweld as part of a complete project solution. This is particularly useful for irregular cavities or large-scale ballast projects.
What's the maximum weight you can supply?
Lead counterweights and ballast components can be manufactured from a few grams up to several tonnes per unit. For very large ballast requirements we can produce multiple components for assembly on-site, or pour molten lead directly into customer-supplied containers.
How do I request a quote?
Visit the relevant product page, email us with your specification, or call our sales office on +44 (0)1709 837669. Our team responds within one working day with availability, pricing and lead time. For bespoke marine ballast projects please include drawings, weight requirements or cavity dimensions where available.
Industries We Supply
Our Marine Lead Products Serve Yacht Builders, Ship Constructors, Subsea Contractors And Offshore Engineering Firms
Lead and lead alloy products supporting the UK nuclear sector
Lead solders, lead wire and bespoke lead components for automotive restoration and specialist engineering applications.
