Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machine engineered and designed to elevate employees and tools to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The kind of machinery varies with the particular brand and model. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 main types of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These equipment could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using 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 units requiring an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American industrialist and inventor who is widely credited to creating the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, during 1966, prior to the first model of JLG, a company known as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
During the year 1967, after selling his previous business 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 tragic event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which can raise workers safely in the air for them to do maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
When John returned home from his trip, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 workers.