Domestic Partnership Fosters Innovation in the U.S. Supply Chain
Mike and Mary Kate Moody’s story is a classic example of a family business, where their involvement in industrial manufacturing equipment, specifically the circular knit machine, started with their passion for textiles. Mike started out as a technician straight out of college in textiles and later ventured into technical sales. Mary Kate was ushered into the sales business where together they explored the world of textiles.
Their journey began at Nova Trading, where they bought and sold used and new machines, including flatbed collar knitting machines that produce collars for golf shirts. Their father bought Vanguard Machines to merge with Nova Trading, one of the largest distributors of manufacturing technology in the United States. They continued to work there for ten years after the merger, until they launched their own business.
When asked about the motivation behind starting their own business, Trex Machine Group, Mike and Mary Kate explained that they wanted to run a family company with a focus on providing excellent customer service and high-quality, inexpensive machines.
Trex Machine Group, which is based in Charlotte, NC, sources its circular knit machines from China because they are cost-effective, and the manufacturer has been improving their machine technology. Trex works with a company that manufactures everything that goes into the machine itself, including the parts and steel; They even have their own foundry to produce the metal used on the machine. This approach eliminates the need to get parts from multiple places, making it easy to build custom machines for each client's specific needs.
One of the key features of their circular knit machines is that they are built with a more modern design than most competitors' machines, which use 23-year-old designs. This technology, combined with the low-cost manufacturing in China, makes the Trex's custom machines are more affordable than those from Germany, Italy, and Japan, but more expensive than standard Chinese machines. The company's business model is based on selling quality, inexpensive machines and providing excellent parts and technical service.
To ensure that manufacturers get the right machine for their needs, the company analyzes fabric samples or specifications provided by clients. Every machine is custom-built, and lead times range from two months to build the machine to thirty days for delivery, with a deposit required three months before delivery. This lead time is much faster than competitors, who take eight months to one and a half years to build their machines. Trex Machine Group has several success stories, with Minnesota Knitting purchasing eleven machines to produce products for Carhartt.
Regarding trends and innovations in the soft goods manufacturing space, Mike and Mary Kate noted that their business model, which they came up with five years ago, is still relevant and responsive to the demands of industry. They haven't seen much change in technology that is used by major companies like Hanes, Gildan, and Fruit of the Loom.
Right now, they’re working on gearing up to showcase their new industrial frame high-speed jersey machine at the ITMA show in Milan, one of the world’s most influential textile and garment technology.