Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are designed and engineered to raise employees and their gear to a particular height so as to do a task. The specific unit and manufacturer and kind of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs that need work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar tasks and kept numerous workers safe.
The three key types of aerial work platforms are scissor lifts, boomlifts and mechanical lifts. These types of machinery could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls situated at the platform, they may be unpowered units needing an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American industrialist and inventor who is widely credited to creating the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, during 1966, prior to the first model of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift unit.
John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip in 1967. This was after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing. 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 tragic incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could raise workers safely in the air for them to perform maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
Once John returned home from his trip, he bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.