At the age of 18, Joe Herr came to the U.S. where he worked at W&W Tool and Die Co. in Burlingame. After 10 years, when he was asked to become at partner at W&W, he realized that he could manage a company on his own. Thus, Herr Precision Machining in Campbell, California, was founded two years later and eventually grew to 56 employees.

In 1982 Joe started Campbell Tool & Metal Supply after Judge Metal went out of business. He realized there was a lack of suppliers to the machine shop industry and felt his insight would be helpful in providing goods and services in the Silicon Valley. By 2003 Campbell Tool & Metal Supply had outgrown their facility, and Joe purchased a 55,000 sq. ft. building in San Jose where he moved the business. He closed the machine shop and focused on supplying quality aluminum and stainless steel to the local machine shop industry. Knowing, firsthand, how critical lead time and quality are, Joe has always placed his utmost focus on quality products for same day Will Call or next day delivery.