Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are engineered and designed to elevate workers and their gear to a particular height so as to carry out a job. The particular model and manufacturer and kind of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs which need work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
The three main kinds of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These machinery are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using a pinion and rack system or with screws or by hydraulics. These units may be self-propelled with controls situated at the platform, they may be unpowered models that require 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. Nevertheless, in 1966, before JLG's first model, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift model.
In the year 1967, after selling his previous business 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 event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that can raise workers safely in the air for them to do construction and maintenance jobs in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership together with 2 friends, once he returned home from his trip. The small business immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 workers.