Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are designed and engineered to elevate employees and their gear to a particular height so as to carry out a task. The specific model and manufacturer and kind of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept a lot of workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
The three key kinds of aerial work platforms are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These machines can be operated with pneumatics, mechanically via a pinion and rack 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 so as to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American industrialist and inventor. Nevertheless, during 1966, prior to the first unit of JLG, a company known as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
In 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip. They opted to 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 that could safely lift workers in the air for them to do maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together with 2 friends, when he returned home from his vacation. The small business immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.