Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are engineered and designed to elevate employees and their gear to a certain height so as to carry out a job. The specific unit and manufacturer and kind of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all tasks requiring work at high levels had 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.
There are 3 key kinds of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These types of machines are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered units that need an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American industrialist and inventor. Nevertheless, in the year 1966, prior to JLG's first unit, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip in 1967. This was after selling his previous company 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 tragic event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could lift employees safely in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
Once 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 company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.