Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to elevate employees and their gear to a certain height in order to complete a job. The specific model and manufacturer and kind of machine all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all tasks requiring work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
The three main types of aerial work platforms are scissor lifts, boomlifts and mechanical lifts. These types of machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically via a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These units may be self-propelled with controls situated at the platform, they may be unpowered units needing 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. However, during 1966, before JLG's very first model, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip during 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 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 can lift employees safely in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
When John returned home from his vacation, he bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their very first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.