ABOUT HJ ENTHOVEN
Refining lead and essential materials
Our Heritage
Since 1820, HJ Enthoven is a name with deep roots in British lead refining. The firm first acquired the Darley Dale smelter in 1941, seven years after the site was built to support the Mill Close lead mine. The location has remained a centre of metal recovery ever since.
From 1981, the parent company Billiton UK Ltd redeveloped Darley Dale into a modern operation for melting, smelting and refining recycled lead. In 1994, the business was purchased by Ecobat Technologies. During this period, the site grew into one of Europe’s leading recycled lead producers, supplying amore than 75,000 tonnes of product each year and expanding into processes such as battery strip production and polypropylene recovery.
In late 2025, the heritage name HJ Enthoven returned to the business following its purchase from Ecobat. The principles that shaped the original company still guide our work today: careful engineering, responsible material use and a long term commitment to the communities we serve.
1941
H J Enthoven and Sons acquires the Darley Dale lead smelter, originally built to support the Mill Close lead mine. This marks the start of our long association with the site.
1982
The operation expands into polypropylene recycling from battery waste case, supported by ongoing investment in process improvements and environmental performance
1984
Under Billiton UK Ltd, the site is redeveloped into a modern facility for melting, smelting and refining recycled lead, strengthening its role in responsible resource recovery.
1995
The business is purchased by Quexco Inc and Ecobat Technologies was created. During this period, Darley Dale becomes one of Europe’s largest producers of recycled lead.
2001
The operation expands into battery strip production and polypropylene recycling, supported by ongoing investment in process improvements and environmental performance.
2025
The heritage names HJ Enthoven along with sister company British Lead are restored following the purchase from Ecobat by funds advised by Splitstone Capital LLP, a U.K.-based private equity firm. Our focus continues to be careful engineering, safe operations and returning valuable materials to use.
Vision
We aim to return more value to society than we take from it.
Our work is guided by responsibility, sustainability, practical innovation and respect for people and place. We focus on safe operations, efficient resource recovery and continuous improvement through shared knowledge.
Site & Facilities
Our Darley Dale facility is one of the UK’s most established lead recycling sites.
It includes smelting, refining and alloying lines, polypropylene processing, a gypsum recovery plant and an on site laboratory that monitors product quality and process performance
KEY EQUIPMENT – 1 reverb furnace, 2 short rotary furnaces, battery breaker, 12 refining kettles, 25kg & 50kg ingots and 3mT block castings and a Polypropylene extruder.
Our Team
Our leadership team brings experience from metallurgy, recycling, engineering and operations. Their role is to set clear standards, support teams across the site and ensure decisions are grounded in long term stability and responsible practice.
John Manning
Managing Director
Stuart Thompson
HSQE Manager
Andy Mycock
Plant Manager
Philip Needham
Senior HR Manager
JC Immer
Sales Director
Certifications
