Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to elevate employees and their tools to a particular height in order to carry out a task. The specific model and manufacturer and type of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all tasks requiring work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
There are 3 key types of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These types of machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a rack and pinion system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered models requiring an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to developing the aerial work platform. However, in the year 1966, prior to the very first unit of JLG, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
During 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip. They opted to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which could safely raise workers in the air for them to perform maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
Once John returned home from his vacation, he bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership with 2 friends. They immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.