Aerial Work Platforms
The aerial work platform or AWP is a machine designed and engineered to raise employees and gear to a certain height for the completion of jobs. The type of equipment varies with the particular make and unit. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all tasks requiring work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
The three key kinds of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These types of machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing a pinion and rack system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls situated 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 inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to creating the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, during 1966, before the first model of JLG, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
During the year 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove together 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 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 raise employees safely 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 soon began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.