Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are engineered and designed to raise workers and their gear to a particular height in order to finish a task. The specific unit and manufacturer and type of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs requiring work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
There are 3 key types of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These equipment are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically via a pinion and rack system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered units that require an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American inventor and industrialist. However, in the year 1966, prior to the first unit of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
In the year 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided 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 terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which 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 company and formed a partnership together with 2 friends, once he returned home from his vacation. The small company immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.