An advanced systems developer dedicated to the scientific reclamation of critical metals from the urban landscape. Engineering proprietary recovery processes that transform the modern city into a sustainable, above-ground resource bank.
An initiative of Tungco Inc. | Est. 1969
of global tungsten is controlled by China.
The United States has no active tungsten mines. Our defense systems, aerospace manufacturing, and industrial production depend entirely on foreign supply chains vulnerable to geopolitical disruption.
of U.S. primary tungsten is imported.
Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral by the U.S. Department of the Interior. With WWII-era pricing pressures and zero domestic mining, secondary recovery is the only lever for onshore supply.
"Recycling is not an alternative to mining. For tungsten, it is the only domestic supply."
We move beyond traditional extraction, pioneering closed-loop architectures that secure the materials essential for the global green energy transition. Eliminating supply chain volatility by creating a true circular economy for high-value and strategic minerals.
Large-scale secondary tungsten reclamation from industrial scrap, worn tooling, and manufacturing byproducts. Proven processes refined over five decades of continuous operation.
On-site production of Ammonium Paratungstate (APT) and tungsten chemicals through our Project 74 facility. From raw feedstock to defense-grade product.
100% domestic sourcing and processing. Zero sales to China. Full traceability from scrap intake to finished product. A supply chain built for national security compliance.
SAM-registered and production-ready for federal procurement. Structured to meet DoD and DOE requirements for domestic critical mineral sourcing.
Project 74 is Tungco's chemical processing operation, already producing Ammonium Paratungstate (APT) and tungsten chemicals for defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing applications.
Named for tungsten's atomic number, Project 74 represents the next evolution of Tungco's 55-year mission: converting America's secondary tungsten into strategic chemical products, entirely on domestic soil.
Founded in 1969 by Steve and James Nance, Tungco began as a family operation in western Kentucky. Over five decades, it grew into the world's largest secondary tungsten supplier, reclaiming and refining material that would otherwise be lost.
Today, Tungco operates from Madisonville, Kentucky with six subsidiary brands and a clear mandate: keep America's critical minerals in American hands.
CEO Cliff Nance
Whether you represent a federal agency, defense contractor, or allied manufacturer, we are ready to discuss how UMI can support your critical mineral requirements.