Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are designed and engineered to elevate employees and their tools to a particular height in order to finish a job. The specific unit and manufacturer and type of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs needing work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept a lot of employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 key kinds of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These kinds of equipment could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing 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 models requiring 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 devising the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, in 1966, prior to JLG's first unit, a company called Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip in 1967. This was after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing. They opted to make a stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This tragic incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which can safely lift employees in the air for them to do maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
When John returned home from his trip, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 workers.