Canada Metal is the only original supplier of lead pouring to Canada’s nuclear fleet still in business and one of the world’s few lead manufacturers qualified to pour molten lead for nuclear and radiation-protection applications produced under a CSA N299.3-16 quality assurance program (NQA-1 aligned). 

What sets us apart

  • Design consultation: Thanks to our deep history with nuclear and commitment to excellence, we are regularly contacted by those responsible with building and maintaining Canadian and US nuclear power facilities for advice on new shielding designs. 
  • Approved procedures: Canada Metal has had industry leading approved procedures since the 1960s. 
  • Experience:  A lead filling team that has continuous on the job training going back decades. 
  • Short timeline: Lead is Canada Metal’s business. We use tens of thousands a pounds a day, which means we have more than a 100,000lbs of 99.99% pure lead ready to pour on the floor at any moment. That means short lead times and predictable delivery. 
  • Weldment supply and design: Canada Metal can manage every step of process, including design and fabrication of the weldment.

Our Process

Before accepting a PO we ensure we can deliver. Because we guarantee our work, we only take on jobs we know we can finish.That begins with a deep understanding of the customer’s needs from the fill, to the paperwork, to the timeline. This culminates in an approved and singed inspection test plan.

Then we prepare. When the piece arrives it’s quarantined along with the specific lot of 99.99% pure virgin lead. Equipment is cleaned and organized.

After the fill is complete, we clean everything to reduce the risk of lead contamination. If we’re doing any inhouse RT testing, that is handled. Once the piece has been cleared, it’s shipped wherever the customer requires with rates based on shipping from the GTA.  

Our Pouring Capability

  • Virtually limitless size: 1 to 100,000+lbs
  • 0% porosity, verified by Ultrasonic Testing (UT) and Radiographic Testing (RT)
  • Adhesion when necessary
  • Modern and traditional tools:
    • Boroscopes
    • Basic gravity pouring 
    • High pressure pumping 
    • Basic gas heating 
    • High precision electric heating
    • Tinning 
    • And more

How We Ensure a Complete Pour

Before any pour, our Engineering/Quality and fill teams review the customer’s design and drawings to confirm:

  • Lead can reach every required location in the casting
  • Vents are sufficient and correctly positioned to exhaust air during pouring
  • Casting holes are properly located to avoid trapped air pockets that would compromise radiation shielding
  • Canada Metal can meet the requirements (porosity, adhesion., etc)
  • Any necessary design changes are documented, annotated, and re-approved before production begins.

Quality Assurance & Traceability

  • CSA N299.3-16 certified quality program (US NQA-1 aligned)
  • ISO 9001:2015 certified
  • Documented, qualified procedures for filling steel containers, lead casting, alloy fabrication, and foreign-object detection/removal
  • Personnel qualified through formal training and hands-on demonstration 
  • Full traceability and monitoring records maintained per project
  • We only use conflict and forced labour free fully traceable 99.99+% pure lead