Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to elevate workers and their tools to a certain height in order to do a task. The specific model and manufacturer and type of machine all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs requiring work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept many employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar jobs.
There are 3 main kinds of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These machinery could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically using a rack and pinion system or by hydraulics or with screws. 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 inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to developing the aerial work platform. Nonetheless, during the year 1966, prior to JLG's very first unit, a company called Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift model.
During the year 1967, after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove and his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could safely raise workers in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance jobs in a better way.
Once John returned home from his trip, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.