Our history
Tex-Trude, as one of the early architects of Houston's commercial plastics sector, has played a supporting role in the transformation of the region into one of the world's most significant centers of plastics products and services.
Visionary beginnings.
In 1951, while plastic products were only beginning to emerge in America, Tom Shartle and Bruce Keckley made a strategic investment in future potential. The owners of a steel casting company in Houston established Tex-Trude to manufacture plastic pipes for irrigation systems from a modest facility in Galena Park.
The operation gained momentum when Charles Nettles Sr., a metallurgist and engineer, assumed leadership as president in 1952, launching a three-generation family legacy that thrives today. Under his direction, Tex-Trude strategically shifted from pipes to manufacturing glazing beads for windows and doors, along with custom profile extrusion – a visionary decision that established the foundation for sustained future growth.
Family values. Customer focus.
As a family-owned enterprise, Tex-Trude fostered an environment where relationships formed the cornerstone of business. This philosophy extended beyond the Nettles family to employees, many of whom built careers spanning decades, creating an ever-expanding pool of technical expertise and institutional knowledge. As early company communications stated, "Our goal is to treat employees as family and, because of this approach, we hope that our customers will also feel as if they are fully part of the Tex-Trude family."
This operating philosophy was clearly exhibited through responsive customer service and support, without corporate bureaucracy impeding innovation. The Nettles family maintained direct involvement in operations, with Charles Nettles Sr., famously arriving at work at 4 a.m. each day, instilling a culture of commitment that defined the organization.
Growing and innovating for a region's success.
By the mid 1960s, Houston had established itself as a global petrochemical center and Tex-Trude had become both a beneficiary and catalyst of this dramatic expansion. The company's evolving manufacturing capabilities - from polyethylene blown film to PVC profile extrusion - provided essential components that empowered other regional businesses to excel.
What distinguished Tex-Trude wasn’t merely its physical expansion from a small operation to a 60-acre manufacturing complex, but its approach to that growth. The company invested in developing tailored solutions through direct collaboration with customers under the leadership of Charles Nettles Jr. When construction firms required more resilient moisture barriers, when packaging companies needed films with precise performance specifications, or when manufacturers sought specialized extrusions, Tex-Trude’s engineering team partnered with them to craft innovative and beneficial solutions. Meanwhile, Tex-Trude continued to develop strong, strategic relationships with critical petrochemical suppliers which would support its product consistency and cost efficiencies for decades to follow.
Tested by fire. Driven by values.
On Saturday, November 8, 2008, Tex-Trude experienced a major 5-alarm fire - a blaze that could be seen across the greater Houston area and took 50 fire trucks and more than 200 fire fighters 2 days to extinguish. The fire destroyed more than 4.5 million pounds of finished goods, over 2 million pounds of resin and 170,000 square feet of buildings.
While industry reports suggested the tragedy might mark the end of the Tex-Trude story, Charles Nettles Jr. on the night of the fire, assured his employees that would not be the case. “Come to work on Monday, you have a job,” he informed them. “We will get through this and we all will work to not simply rebuild Tex-Trude but to make our company better than before.”
Tex-Trude completed its new facilities in January, 2010. Then in 2011, Charles Nettles III joined Tex-Trude team and is currently serving as President of Tex-Trude LP, expanding the family ownership and heritage to three generations of leadership.
A legacy of customer success and satisfaction.
Today, Tex-Trude operates from its 60-acre manufacturing center in Channelview. Its distinctive combination of family-owned responsiveness and industrial-scale capabilities continues to deliver advantages that neither custom fabricators nor national or multinational manufacturers can replicate.
For businesses seeking not simply a supplier but a genuine collaborator in their growth, Tex-Trude delivers both the technical expertise to address tomorrow’s challenges and the personal investment to ensure customers flourish today and each day forward.
