Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machinery designed and engineered to elevate employees and gear to a particular height for the completion of jobs. The kind of machinery varies with the particular brand and unit. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all jobs requiring work at high levels had to be carried out with scaffolding. Hence, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar tasks and kept numerous employees safe.
There are 3 key kinds of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These machinery are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a pinion and rack system or by hydraulics or with screws. These units may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered units that require 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. Nevertheless, in the year 1966, before JLG's first unit, a company called Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift model.
In the year 1967, after selling his previous business Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove along with his wife decided to take a road trip. They opted to make a stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately saw 2 workers electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This terrible incident led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that can lift workers safely in the air for them to perform construction and maintenance jobs in a better way.
When John returned home from his vacation, he purchased a small metal fabrication business and formed a partnership along with 2 friends. They immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly launched their very first aerial work platform during the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.