Aerial Work Platforms
The aerial work platform or AWP is a machine engineered and designed to elevate workers and tools to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The kind of machine varies with the particular brand and model. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs needing work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept a lot of 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 machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered units requiring an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to developing the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, in 1966, prior to the first unit of JLG, a company called Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
In 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to make a stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 employees electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could lift workers safely in the air for them to do construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
Once John returned home from his vacation, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 workers.