Aerial Work Platforms
The aerial work platform or AWP is a machine engineered and designed to raise employees and gear to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The kind of equipment varies with the particular make and unit. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs needing work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
The three key kinds of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These kinds of equipment are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered models which require an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to creating the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, during 1966, before JLG's first model, a company known as Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
In 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could raise employees safely in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
John purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together 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 named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 workers.