UK Cathodic Protection Lead Supplier — Anodes for Corrosion Protection
Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd is a UK cathodic protection lead supplier, manufacturing sacrificial and impressed current lead alloy anodes at our Rotherham facility. We supply the marine, offshore, pipeline, water industry and structural protection sectors with lead-silver, lead-antimony and bespoke alloy anodes cast to project specifications.
With over 250 years of lead casting experience, our cathodic protection anodes deliver the consistent electrochemical performance required for effective long-term corrosion protection of submerged structures, buried pipelines, ship hulls, offshore platforms, harbour installations and water storage infrastructure.
Why Choose Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Cathodic Protection Anodes?
- UK manufactured at our Rotherham facility — full material traceability
- Lead-silver and lead-antimony alloys cast to industry specifications
- Bespoke alloy formulations for specialist applications
- Custom dimensions and core configurations to project drawings
- Documentation supplied with material composition and batch traceability
- Long-running production for sustained-supply infrastructure projects
- Over 250 years of casting expertise — established 1770
Sacrificial Lead Anodes for Cathodic Protection
Sacrificial anodes work by being more electrochemically active than the metal they protect — the anode corrodes preferentially, sparing the protected structure. Lead alloy anodes are particularly suited to immersed and buried applications where their long service life and consistent electrochemical behaviour outperform alternatives like zinc or aluminium.
Typical Sacrificial Anode Applications
- Ship hull protection — bolted-on or welded anodes for vessel corrosion control
- Submerged structures — harbour piles, jetties, marine pontoons
- Offshore platforms — leg, jacket and template protection
- Buried pipelines — gas, oil and water transmission pipework
- Underground storage tanks — fuel and water storage
- Reinforced concrete structures — protection of embedded steel reinforcement in bridges, jetties and sea defences
- Heat exchanger and condenser systems — sacrificial protection of tube bundles
Impressed Current Lead Alloy Anodes
For larger structures and longer protection lifetimes, impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems use an external power source to drive corrosion protection. Lead-silver and lead-antimony alloy anodes are widely used as ICCP anodes because of their stability, low consumption rate and resistance to oxidation in the operating environment.
ICCP Applications
- Major pipelines — long-distance gas, oil and water transmission
- Large vessel hulls — commercial shipping and naval applications
- Offshore platform protection — fixed and floating production installations
- Wharf and dock structures
- Buried storage tank farms
- Power station cooling water systems
Lead Alloy Anode Specifications
Our cathodic protection anodes are produced in standard industry alloys and bespoke formulations:
Lead-Silver Anodes
- Lead with 1-2% silver content
- Excellent stability in seawater applications
- Low consumption rate for long service life
- Industry-standard ICCP anode material for marine use
Lead-Antimony Anodes
- Lead with 6-12% antimony content depending on application
- Higher mechanical strength than pure lead anodes
- Suitable for sacrificial applications where structural integrity is required
- Widely used in pipeline and tank protection
Custom Alloy Formulations
- Bespoke compositions for specialist applications
- Project-specific alloy testing and approval
- Drawings or sample-matched production
Anode Formats & Configurations
Cathodic protection anodes are produced in many shapes and configurations depending on the protected structure and installation method:
- Bracelet anodes — for clamping around pipelines
- Stand-off anodes — bolted to platform legs and structural members with insulating spacers
- Bolt-on hull anodes — for ship and barge protection
- Strip anodes — for reinforced concrete and embedded applications
- Cylinder anodes — for buried installations in groundbeds
- Cast-on insulated core anodes — for ICCP systems
- Bespoke profiles — cast to project drawings
Each format requires specific casting tooling. For projects requiring volume supply of standard formats we can hold tooling for repeat production runs.
Marine & Offshore Applications
Marine and offshore corrosion protection is one of the most demanding applications for lead alloy anodes. Salt water environments combine aggressive chloride attack with significant tidal and current-driven oxygenation cycles. Our lead-silver and lead-antimony anodes are extensively used by:
- Commercial shipping operators
- Naval vessel maintenance contractors
- Offshore oil and gas platform operators
- Subsea pipeline installation specialists
- Port authorities and harbour maintenance teams
- Marine engineering consultants and corrosion specialists
See our dedicated Lead Products for Marine, Offshore & Subsea page for the full marine product range.
Pipeline & Buried Structure Protection
Buried pipelines and storage tanks represent some of the largest cathodic protection applications. The economics are clear: a small ongoing anode replacement cost dramatically extends pipeline life and avoids catastrophically expensive in-service repairs.
We supply lead alloy anodes for:
- Natural gas transmission pipelines
- Oil and petroleum product pipelines
- Water industry transmission mains
- District heating pipework
- Underground fuel storage tanks at filling stations and depots
- Water utility storage and reservoir tanks
Custom Castings & Project Supply
Cathodic protection projects often require bespoke anode geometries to match specific structures and installation methods. For project supply, we offer:
- Casting from project drawings — anodes manufactured to your engineering specification
- Production scheduling aligned with installation programmes
- Documentation supplied with each batch — composition, weight and traceability
- Long-term supply agreements for replacement anode programmes
- Insulated core cast-in for ICCP anodes
- Cable terminations cast or attached as specified
Who We Supply
- Marine engineering contractors
- Shipbuilders and ship repair facilities
- Offshore oil and gas operators
- Pipeline construction specialists
- Water utilities — for transmission and storage infrastructure
- Port authorities
- Corrosion engineering consultants
- Tank installation and refurbishment contractors
- Reinforced concrete structural repair specialists
- Heat exchanger manufacturers
Material Quality & Documentation
Cathodic protection anode performance depends on consistent electrochemical behaviour over years of service life. All our anodes are:
- Cast at our UK facility from documented source materials
- Supplied with certificates of analysis stating alloy composition
- Batch-numbered for traceability
- Weighed and dimensionally inspected before dispatch
- Suitable for inclusion in project compliance documentation
How to Order Cathodic Protection Anodes
Anode orders are processed on a quote-led basis to ensure project specifications are met exactly:
- Submit a quote request with your alloy specification, anode dimensions, quantity and required documentation
- We respond within 1 working day with pricing and lead time
- For project supply we can produce against a schedule aligned with your installation programme
- Anodes are cast, inspected and dispatched with full documentation
For trade accounts and ongoing supply arrangements, contact our team directly to discuss credit terms and BACS payment.
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