Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are engineered and designed to elevate employees and their tools to a certain height in order to complete a task. The particular model and manufacturer and kind of machine all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar tasks and kept many employees safe.
The three key types of aerial work platforms are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These machines are able to 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 situated at the platform, they may be unpowered models requiring 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, during 1966, prior to JLG's very first model, a company known as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip in 1967. This was after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing. They decided to 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 can safely raise workers in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance tasks in a better way.
John purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends, when he returned home from his vacation. The small business immediately started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 workers.