From aerospace to healthcare – with more than 20 uses in aeronautics alone – various sectors supported by lead metal are significant contributors to employment creation, economic growth and healthier lives.
With its unique properties, lead helps to keep Europeans moving, safely. To date, no other material provides the proven safety and reliability of tin-lead alloy solder.
Europe's steel industry, which produced more than €152 billion worth of high quality steel in 2023 alone, relies on small amounts of lead to optimise both its production and use.
Millions of X-rays are taken daily in hospitals and clinics around the world. Lead-based shielding is still the most effective and cost-efficient way to protect patients and staff from exposure to radiation.
Lead plays an integral part in high reliability applications requiring longevity. Used in solder alloys, lead helps to prevent micro-cracks and ‘tin whiskers’ which can cause short circuits.