Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machinery engineered and designed to elevate employees and tools to a particular height for the completion of tasks. The kind of machinery varies with the specific brand and unit. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many 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 utilizing a rack and pinion system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls 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 creating the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, in the year 1966, prior to JLG's very first unit, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip in the year 1967. This was after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing. They opted to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product which can safely lift employees in the air for them to do maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership with 2 friends, once he returned home from his vacation. The small business soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.