Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machine designed and engineered to elevate employees and tools to a certain height for the completion of jobs. The type of machinery varies with the specific brand and unit. Before aerial work platforms were made, all tasks needing work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
The three main kinds of aerial work platforms are scissor lifts, boomlifts and mechanical lifts. These machinery 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 requiring an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to devising the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, during 1966, before the very first model of JLG, a company known as Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
In 1967, after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with 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 tragic incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which could safely raise employees in the air for them to do construction and maintenance jobs 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 soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their very first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.