Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to raise workers and their gear to a certain height so as to complete a job. The particular unit and manufacturer and kind of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, 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 key types of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These machinery 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 models requiring 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 inventor and industrialist. However, in the year 1966, before the very first unit of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip in the year 1967. This was after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing. 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 terrible event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that can safely lift employees in the air for them to do maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership with 2 friends, once he returned home from his trip. The small business immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.