How a teenager counting tungsten bits became one of Tungco’s top procurement agents
Some career journeys start in corner offices. Chris Capps’ started on a five-gallon bucket.
“I literally had a five gallon pail that I had to sit on,” Chris recalls, describing his early days at one of Tungco’s former companies. “And I would be leaning over the container that the parts were into. And I would just be counting them.”
His technique? Counting by twos — two, four, six, eight — slinging tungsten carbide drill bits into piles while marking tallies on a legal pad. Hour after hour. Day after day.
As we continue preparations for next year at IMTS — one of the world’s largest manufacturing trade shows — we want to share a video of Chris sitting in a comfortable chair at last year’s IMTS show in Chicago representing Tungco as a key procurement agent and relationship builder. In between talking to customers, he would call his then-pregnant wife to check in on how she was doing.
“Never know where life is going to take you,” he says with characteristic humility.
Building Expertise One Bit at a Time
Chris’s story embodies everything Tungco stands for: hard work, loyalty, and the long game.
Starting on the plant floor gave Chris something no textbook or training program could provide — an intimate understanding of tungsten carbide scrap reclamation from the ground up. He learned to identify different grades of material, understand quality variations, and recognize the value in what others might see as waste.
That hands-on experience became the foundation for his current role managing key accounts across multiple industries. Whether he’s working with suppliers from oil and gas, aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, or healthcare sectors, Chris brings real-world knowledge to every conversation.
The Art of the Deal (and Actually Closing It)
At Tungco, we believe in picking up the phone when others hide behind emails. Chris Capps lives that principle every day.
Known for his sense of humor and ability to build genuine connections, Chris doesn’t just negotiate transactions — he creates lasting partnerships. He’s become known as a deal closer who sees relationships through from beginning to end, ensuring suppliers receive the highest level of service throughout the entire procurement process.
“Whatever it Takes” isn’t just Tungco’s core value — it’s Chris’s personal operating system.
A New Chapter: From Slinging Bits to Changing Diapers
Recently, Chris added another role to his resume: new dad. He and his wife welcomed a son and they just celebrated his first birthday.
The same dedication and attention to detail he brings to managing tungsten carbide procurement is now being applied to late-night feedings and diaper changes. (Though we’re told he’s not counting those by twos.)
Why This Story Matters
Chris’s journey from the plant floor to trade show floors represents something bigger than one person’s career trajectory. It reflects Tungco’s culture of investing in people, promoting from within, and valuing the kind of deep industry knowledge that only comes from getting your hands dirty.
We were built in backyards and barns, by hands that understood both hard work and heavy metal. Chris embodies that legacy while helping write Tungco’s next chapter.
Working with Tungco
When you work with Chris Capps and the Tungco team, you’re partnering with people who:
- Understand tungsten carbide scrap from every angle
- Value long-term relationships over quick transactions
- Provide accurate processing, settlement, and payment with maximum efficiency
- Actually answer the phone
- Know that truckload quantities of quality material matter
Whether you’re generating tungsten scrap from drilling operations, machining centers, thermal spray applications, or manufacturing processes, Tungco can help you turn that waste into revenue while we recycle it into reusable material.
Get a Quote
Ready to turn your tungsten carbide scrap into revenue? Let us prove our “Whatever it Takes” commitment to you. Email Tungco at [email protected]
Contact Chris Capps and the Tungco procurement team for a price quote today.
Because at Tungco, we don’t just process tungsten — we reclaim it, refine it, and give it a second life. Just like we’ve done with our people, generation after generation.
Tungco specializes in tungsten carbide reclamation and raw feed supply to tungsten carbide suppliers and consumers worldwide. As a global leader in tungsten recycling, we supply truckload quantities of material to consumers who recycle and produce new tungsten products.
