Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to elevate workers and their gear to a certain height so as to carry out a job. The specific unit and manufacturer and kind of equipment all varies. Before aerial work platforms were developed, all tasks requiring work at high levels needed to be done with scaffolding. Therefore, the invention of aerial work platforms has kept numerous employees safe and increased the overall productivity of similar tasks.
There are 3 key kinds of aerial work platforms. They are mechanical lifts, scissorlifts and boomlifts. These equipment are able to be operated with pneumatics, mechanically utilizing a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls at the platform, they may be unpowered units requiring an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle so as to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American industrialist and inventor. Nevertheless, during 1966, before the first model of JLG, a company referred to as Selma Manlift introduced an aerial lift unit.
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 employees electrocuted while they were working on scaffolding. This tragic event led John Grove to discover an untapped market for a new product that could raise employees safely in the air for them to perform maintenance and construction tasks in a better way.
John bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership with 2 friends, when he returned home from his trip. The small business soon began designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was called JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their first aerial work platform during 1970 with the aid of 20 employees.