The ''Strategic Alliance'' created by the new close working relationship which now exists between Thistle Generators of Coatbridge and FG Wilson of Northern Ireland marks a beginning to new chapters in the success stories of both companies.

For Thistle Generators, it is a story which began in 1968 when two electrical contractor brothers, Pat and Michael Feeney, set up their own small company in Glasgow. Michael later left the company to set up his own venture. Pat Feeney remained, and his company first became involved with generators the following year. It was then supplying electrical services during the construction of the Balmore Water Tunnel, being built to transfer water from Loch Lomond to Glasgow's water system.

Development from that point was steady. In 1975, Strathclyde Handling Ltd was established to carry out steel fabrication work and conveyor systems. It later became the group holding company. Two years later, the company moved from Glasgow to Uddingston. By then, while still involved in electrical contracts, it was also carrying out the supplying, installing and maintaining of generators while the group's interests had also grown to include the distribution of cables, concentrating on aluminium power cables.

The move to Thistle's base in Coatbridge followed further expansion and the firm has premises regarded as ideal for all its operations, including the cable side of its activities. It offers 33ft eaves and equipment including three overhead cranes.

In 1990, the firm became the first electrical contractor in Scotland to achieve B5750 quality assurance. This year, the name Feeney Bros. Ltd was changed to Thistle Generators Ltd, to reflect more accurately the nature of the business interests.

Strathclyde Cables Ltd was established in 1984 as a joint venture company with Irish Cable and Wire Ltd, the latter taken over in 1991 by the Alcatel group. Strathclyde Cables supplies power and data cables and accesories. The other half of the ''strategic alliance'', FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd, also began life as a small family owned business in Northern Ireland. Incorporated in 1966, it initially specialised in transport equipment designed by its founder, Fred Wilson.

During the energy crisis of the early 1970s the company began to sell electricity generating sets to industry. At first, these were imported from the United States but soon the Wilson company was designing and building its own generating sets.

From there, growth has been constant. The company is now the largest diesel generator manufacturer in Europe and the third largest in the world. Since l99l, turnover has almost tripled from #80m to #236m and the global workforce has grown to more than 1500. A world-wide dealer network is supported by eight subsidiaries and 12 sales offices - including eight in China.

FG Wilson products supplies power to customers who vary from hospitals in Eastern Europe, to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, to factories in India, and to communities on many Pacific islands. At home, it is a source of stand-by power in many Government, public and commercial facilities. In addition to permanently installed generators there are large numbers which are canopy enclosed and deployed by UK rental fleet operators.

Since January 1995 the company has been part of the multinational Emerson Electrical Group, based in St Louis, Missouri. Current sales make Emerson one of the world's largest electrical and electronics companies.

Just over 12 months ago a joint venture was announced between FG Wilson and Caterpillar Inc. under which Wilson will assemble most of Caterpillar's generators range outside of the Americas.

Within the next five years the Northern Ireland firm believes it will have become the world's largest producer of generator sets, with a turnover of #600m and a need to recruit more than 1200 additional employees.