The U-LI Group had its humble beginnings back in 1978 when it was founded under the name U-Lee Trading Company. Initially, it engaged mostly in engineering works and the trading of cable support system. U-Lee Trading Company later began manufacturing cable support systems, albeit on a modest scale. In 1983, a private limited company known as United U-LI (M) Sdn Bhd (ULSB) was incorporated to better serve the growing demands of the Malaysian cable support systems market.

In March 1997 and January 1998, United U-LI Steel Service Centre Sdn Bhd (ULSS) and Cable-Tray Industries (M) Sdn Bhd (CTSB) commenced operations to complement the principal activities of ULSB.