Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machinery designed and engineered to elevate workers and tools to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The kind of machinery varies with the specific brand and unit. Before aerial work platforms were made, all tasks that require work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar jobs and kept many workers safe.
The three main types of aerial work platforms are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These types of machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a pinion and rack system or with screws or by hydraulics. These units may be self-propelled with controls located at the platform, they may be unpowered units which need an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
The aerial work platform was devised by John L. Grove, an American inventor and industrialist. Nonetheless, in 1966, before the first model of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift model.
During 1967, after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 employees electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which could raise workers safely in the air for them to do construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
Once John returned home from his trip, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 workers.