Tungco

What Tungco does

Tungco, Inc. is a privately-held, family-owned tungsten recycling and manufacturing company headquartered in Madisonville, Kentucky, founded in 1969 by Steve Nance and his father James Nance. The company specializes in the reclamation of tungsten carbide scrap (hard scrap, soft scrap, sludge, powders, filters, and tungsten-based alloys) and operates as one of the largest suppliers of secondary tungsten raw materials globally. Tungco's customer base spans machine shops, manufacturers, mining companies, aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, oil and gas, construction, defense, and road-milling operations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The company's product and technology portfolio spans the full tungsten value chain. Its core recycling operations feature on-site laboratories for sampling, chemical analysis, and spectral analysis to deliver accurate chemistry on incoming scrap. Through subsidiaries acquired or established between 2009 and 2025, Tungco has built a vertically integrated manufacturing platform: Tungco Powder Procurement (soft scrap/sludge), 74 Alloys (tungsten-based alloys, HSS, superalloys), Cuda Grit (crushed tungsten carbide grit), and Lineage Metallurgical (HVOF thermal spray powders, composite rods, tube metals), the latter operating from an ISO 9001:2015 and AS9100D-certified facility in Baytown, Texas with Boeing, Bombardier, GE, Goodrich/Collins, and Pratt & Whitney approvals. The company also operates Tungco GmbH and Tungco Worldwide Ltd. in Europe (Ireland and Germany) and acquired HSS Recycling GmbH in October 2025 to expand high-speed steel recycling.

Tungco makes money through two complementary mechanisms: (1) a transaction-fee spread model on tungsten scrap procurement, buying scrap from industrial suppliers, processing it through weighing, sampling, laboratory analysis, and resale to tungsten carbide producers and consumers; and (2) direct unit-priced sales of manufactured products (thermal spray powders, composite rods, tube metals, tungsten carbide grit, and kits) through field sales and the lineagemet.com e-commerce storefront. Go-to-market is primarily sales-led via a global team with regional Managing Directors for North America and Europe, supported by content marketing (the "Cliff's Notes" podcast), LinkedIn, YouTube, industry trade shows (ISRI, CONEXPO, World of Asphalt, IMTS), and a referral-driven reputation in the scrap recycling industry. Pricing on scrap is quote-based, while manufactured products are listed by unit (lb, kit, spool) ranging from approximately $18.99 per lb for thermal spray powder up to $7,599 for a hardfacing start-up kit.

Name

Tungco

Legal name

Tungco, Inc.

Website

https://tungco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tungco is a family-owned tungsten carbide recycler and manufacturer that reclaims tungsten scrap and produces thermal spray powders, composite rods, tube metals, and wear-protection products for global industrial customers across aerospace, mining, heavy equipment, and road construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tungsten Recycling and Reclamation Services

NAICS

Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3329), Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing (332117)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro primary industry

Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Brokerage (Aluminum, Copper, Brass/Bronze, Lead, Zinc, Nickel) (IMAKAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Non-Ferrous Scrap Processing & Recycling (Aluminum, Copper, Brass, Lead, Zinc) (EUAIAJAB)

Keywords

• Tungsten scrap recycling
• Tungsten carbide reclamation
• Thermal spray powders
• Hardfacing materials
• Tungsten alloy processing

Headquarters

HQ city

Madisonville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tungsten Scrap Procurement and Recycling: Tungco purchases tungsten scrap materials from suppliers (machine shops, manufacturers, mining companies, etc.), processes the material, and resells to tungsten carbide consumers and producers. Revenue generated through the spread between purchase price and resale value of processed tungsten materials.
2. Thermal Spray Powders and Tungsten Products Sales: Lineage Metallurgical sells manufactured tungsten carbide products including thermal spray powders, composite rods, tube metals, and tungsten carbide grit directly to customers through e-commerce and sales team. Products are priced per unit (lb, kit, spool) with various sizes and formulations.
3. Tungco GmbH European Operations: European hub providing comprehensive tungsten scrap procurement and processing services for customers across Europe, Asia, Middle East, and beyond with processing facility in Krefeld, Germany.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tungco specializes in the reclamation of tungsten carbide scrap materials (hard scrap, soft scrap, sludge, powders, filters, and tungsten-based alloys) and delivers processed raw feed to tungsten carbide suppliers and consumers. Through its subsidiaries, Tungco also manufactures and sells finished tungsten carbide products including thermal spray powders (WC-Co, WC-Co-Cr, Cr3C2-NiCr), Legacy composite brazing rods, Tradition tube metals, and crushed tungsten carbide grit for hardfacing and wear-protection applications across aerospace, mining, heavy equipment, road construction, and other industrial sectors.

Product overview

Tungco is a global leader in tungsten secondary raw materials, operating as a family-owned company since 1969. The company operates a multi-brand portfolio under the Tungco Group umbrella: the core Tungco brand handles tungsten carbide hard scrap; Tungco Powder Procurement (TPP) manages soft scrap and sludge; 74 Alloys handles tungsten-based alloys and high speed steel; Lineage Metallurgical manufactures thermal spray powders, composite rods, and tube metals for wear coatings; Cuda Grit produces crushed tungsten carbide grit; Tungco GmbH serves as the European processing hub; and HSS Recycling handles high speed steel and specialty alloy recycling. The portfolio spans the full tungsten recycling value chain from material procurement and processing to finished product manufacturing for thermal coating, brazing, welding, and wear protection applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Legacy Composite Rods: Tungsten carbide composite brazing rods with copper-based binder for severe impact and wear applications
• Tradition Tube Metal
• Cuda Grit
• Heritage
• Lineage Thermal Spray Powders
• Starbide Rod

Products and services

• Tungsten Carbide Scrap Reclamation Service
• Tungsten Carbide Soft Scrap and Sludge Procurement (TPP)
• Tungsten Alloys and Specialty Alloy Procurement (74 Alloys)
• HSS and Specialty Materials Recycling (HSS Recycling GmbH)
• European Tungsten Scrap Processing Service (Tungco GmbH)
• Thermal Spray Powders (Lineage Metallurgical)
• Legacy Composite Brazing Rods
• Tungsten Carbide Grit (Cuda Grit)
• Tradition Tube Metals
• Tungsten Carbide Cobalt Powder (LA-3203-25)
• Hardfacing Start-Up Kit
• Welding Grade Carbide Grit

Quantifiable outcome

• Doubled business by 2020 with goal to triple by 2030
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ISRI (Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries)coreOthersTungco actively participates in national ISRI conventions and meetings as a key networking and customer acquisition channel. The company values face-to-face relationships with consumers and vendors at these industry events, citing ISRI attendance as important for building trust and reputation in the tungsten recycling industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Elmet Technologies: US-based producer of tungsten, molybdenum, and tantalum products including powders, fabricated parts, and wire. Comparable as a North American non-Chinese tungsten manufacturer serving aerospace, defense, medical, and industrial markets.
• Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG: Austrian integrated tungsten mining and processing company producing ammonium paratungstate (APT), tungsten oxides, and tungsten metal powders. Comparable as a European-based tungsten processor with overlapping product and end-market focus.
• Plansee Group: Austrian-headquartered global leader in refractory metals including tungsten and molybdenum products, powders, and fabricated components. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated tungsten powder and parts manufacturer serving aerospace, industrial, and electronics customers.
• Buffalo Tungsten: US manufacturer of tungsten metal powders, tungsten carbide, and heavy alloys for aerospace, defense, and industrial customers. Directly comparable as a North American tungsten powder and fabricated product manufacturer with aerospace exposure.
• Materion Corporation (H.C. Starck Tungsten): US-based advanced materials group whose tungsten business (formerly H.C. Starck) produces tungsten powders, heavy alloys, and fabricated tungsten products from primary and secondary sources. Closely comparable as a tungsten powder manufacturer with aerospace and industrial certifications.

Regional players

• Kohsei Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty tungsten recycling and powder manufacturing company serving Asian industrial customers. Comparable core activity of reclaiming tungsten scrap and producing tungsten carbide powders, though geographically focused on Japan and Asia.
• Nippon Tungsten: Japanese manufacturer of tungsten, molybdenum, and cemented carbide products for industrial and electronics applications. Comparable product portfolio in tungsten powder, alloys, and fabricated parts, but primarily serving Asian markets.

Emerging players

• Surface Technology Inc. US provider of thermal spray coating services and related powder distribution including tungsten carbide and chrome carbide HVOF powders. Comparable as a downstream thermal spray powder handler with aerospace and industrial customer overlap, though smaller and service-led rather than primary recycler.

Broad incumbents

• Mersen: French-listed global specialty materials company with significant tungsten and refractory metals exposure alongside graphite, anticorrosion equipment, and electrical applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving similar industrial end markets with tungsten-containing products.
• Umicore: Belgian-listed global materials technology group with cobalt, nickel, and recycling operations, including industrial tungsten-related activities. Comparable as a broad specialty materials and recycling incumbent with aerospace and industrial customer overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tungco1203
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tungco-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/tungco_inc/?hl=en

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tungco