Today, we pay tribute to a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a relentless innovator – Fred Wilson, the man who laid the cornerstone of FG Wilson. Born in Moira in 1926 as the fourth of nine children, he set off on an incredible journey that transformed the power generation market, with his work culminating in FG Wilson becoming an iconic name within the industry.
Fred Wilson’s industrious nature was apparent from a young age. Starting his career as an Apprentice Fitter at the Coomb Barbour Textile Machinery Factory in Belfast's North Howard Street, he set the foundations of his future empire by venturing into self-employment at just 18. Selling army surplus to the farming community and trading in Hessian animal feedbags, he gradually broadened his horizons into the scrap metal industry.
His innovation and business acumen truly started to shine in 1960 when he invented and patented the Wilson Foldfork, a revolutionary Forklift Truck attachment for fitting to a conventional lorry. This marked the beginning of a series of trailblazing inventions, which would culminate in his greatest achievement: FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd.
In 1966, he purchased the very factory he began his working life in and established FG Wilson. The company designed its first diesel electric generator sets in 1970, and while they initially enjoyed limited success, a series of power cuts in the Republic of Ireland saw sales rise dramatically. The success skyrocketed even more during the miners' strike in the UK, leading to a tenfold increase in turnover within a year.
Throughout the 1970s and '80s, Fred Wilson and FG Wilson weathered the ebb and flow of the power generation market, with the company demonstrating exceptional resilience and adaptability. During this period, the company supplied its first power station sized generator sets to Dubai and expanded its operations to over 100 countries.
Fred Wilson's entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond FG Wilson. He formed Mobile Equipment Enclosures, a company that manufactures a range of golf buggy products. His contributions to the engineering industry earned him an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2009 for his services to Entrepreneurship and Engineering.
In this video, we celebrate Fred Wilson's remarkable journey and the lasting legacy he has left behind. His dedication, determination, and tireless efforts have shaped FG Wilson into a leading force in the power generation market. As a distributor of FG Wilson, we at Simply Reliable Power Inc, are proud to carry on the legacy of such an inspiring figure.
Please find below the video detailing Fred Wilson's life and work, showcasing the journey of a man who became a symbol of innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of power generation.
Fred Wilson's legacy lives on in every FG Wilson generator we offer. To honor his spirit of innovation, we invite you to explore our range of FG Wilson generators that continue to power businesses across the globe. With unmatched reliability and technical precision, these generators embody the dedication and commitment Fred Wilson invested in creating world-class products.
Ready to experience the power of a legacy? Discover our FG Wilson Generators @SRPAmericas.
Let's continue Fred Wilson's journey of powering the world, one generator at a time.
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