Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to raise employees and their tools to a certain height so as to complete a task. The particular model and manufacturer and type of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs needing work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous 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 could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing 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 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 industrialist and inventor who is widely credited to developing the aerial work platform. However, in the year 1966, prior to the very first unit 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 and his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could lift workers safely in the air for them to do maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
When John returned home from his vacation, he bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.