Major League, Incorporated (now known as “ML Industries” or “MLI”) was incorporated in 1990 and begin manufacturing operations in McCaysville, Georgia. The company began as a contract cut-and-sew manufacturer primarily servicing the private label apparel industry. Employment in 1990 was approximately 20 associates; however, as the company begin to grow Major League moved its headquarters to Tellico Plains, TN to take advantage of a more experienced, trained workforce. In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) passed, and Major League was one of the first sewing contractors to head south of the border to take advantage of this expanded playing field in Mexico.
ML Industries’ first plant in Mexico started operations in March 1994 in Diaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas – a location just two miles from the US border. Major League added a second facility in 1997 in Francisco I. Madero near Torreon, Coahuila. With this new plant – located just six hours from the US border – Major League was strategically positioned for long-term growth.
In 2002, during a strategic planning meeting, the Major League team unanimously agreed to diversify its product offerings. The goal of the strategic shift was to pursue non-apparel, niche products while also continuing an apparel manufacturing relationship with a select group of customers. With that commitment in hand, the company officially changed from “Major League” to “ML Industries” in 2004 to further demonstrate its commitment to its new direction.
In 2009, ML Industries (also referred to as “MLI”) hired over 1,000 new associates and purchased two state-of-the-art buildings with over 300,000 square feet of air-conditioned manufacturing space.
Today, MLI has over 5,000 associates and opened its fourth plant in January of 2016. Additionally, MLI is has added 30,000 square feet of air-conditioned manufacturing space to the Francisco I. Madero facility and has completed an addition to the San Pedro, Coahuila facility.
Today, MLI has achieved its goal of diversifying its product mix. The company have seen double-digit growth in the automotive side of the business for the past decade and manufactures more than 250,000 automotive airbags per week as well as seat covers, wind energy covers, marine covers, military covers, and seat inserts for some of the top automotive business in the world.
MLI’s automotive business continues to evolve as it builds on its nearly three-decades-long experience successfully manufacturing across North America.