Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are engineered and designed to raise employees and their tools to a certain height in order to finish a task. The specific unit and manufacturer and kind of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all tasks requiring work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar jobs and kept a lot of employees safe.
There are 3 key types of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These machinery could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing 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 models which require an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American inventor and industrialist. Nevertheless, during the year 1966, prior to JLG's first unit, a company known as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip during the year 1967. This was after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing. They opted 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 event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which could safely raise employees in the air for them to do maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
Once John returned home from his trip, he bought 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 company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 workers.