Aerial Work Platforms
The AWP or aerial work platform is a machinery engineered and designed to elevate workers and gear to a certain height for the completion of jobs. The kind of machinery varies with the specific make and unit. Before aerial work platforms were made, all tasks which require work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept a lot of workers safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 main types of aerial work platforms. They are boomlifts, mechanical lifts and scissorlifts. These kinds of machines are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of 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 units needing an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
John L. Grove was an American inventor and industrialist who is widely credited to devising the aerial work platform. Nevertheless, during 1966, prior to JLG's first unit, a company called Selma Manlift launched 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 event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could safely lift employees in the air for them to do construction and maintenance tasks 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 immediately began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new business was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 workers.