Aerial Work Platforms
Aerial work platforms or AWPs are designed and engineered to elevate employees and their tools to a particular height in order to do a job. The specific unit and manufacturer and type of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs requiring work at high levels needed to be carried out with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar jobs and kept many employees safe.
The three main kinds of aerial work platforms are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These equipment can be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of 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 needing an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to developing the aerial work platform. However, in 1966, before the first unit of JLG, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
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 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 can lift employees safely in the air for them to do maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends, when he returned home from his trip. The small company soon 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.