Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machine engineered and designed to elevate employees and gear to a particular height for the completion of tasks. The type of machine varies with the specific brand and model. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs needing work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept a lot of employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 key types of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These machinery could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using 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 need an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American industrialist and inventor who is widely credited to devising the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, in the year 1966, prior to JLG's very first model, a company known as Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
During 1967, after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which can lift workers safely in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
When John returned home from his vacation, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends. They immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.