Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are designed and engineered to elevate employees and their tools to a certain height in order to do a job. The particular unit and manufacturer and type of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs which need work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar tasks and kept many workers safe.
There are 3 main types of aerial work platforms. They are scissor lifts, boomlifts and mechanical lifts. These types of machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing a pinion and rack system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered models which need 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 developing the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, during 1966, prior to the first unit of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip in the year 1967. This was after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 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 can safely lift workers in the air for them to do construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
When John returned home from his trip, he bought a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.