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 kind of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 key types of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These types of equipment can be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using a rack and pinion system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls located at the platform, they may be unpowered models needing an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
The aerial work platform was devised by John L. Grove, an American inventor and industrialist. Nonetheless, in the year 1966, before JLG's first model, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
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 opted to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 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 safely lift employees in the air for them to do maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
Once John returned home from his vacation, he purchased a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership along with 2 friends. They immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.