Aerial Work Platforms
AWP or aerial work platforms are engineered and designed to raise employees and their gear to a particular height so as to do a job. The particular model and manufacturer and kind of machinery all varies. Before aerial work platforms were made, all jobs that require work at high levels had to be done with scaffolding. Thus, the invention of aerial work platforms has increased the overall productivity of similar tasks and kept a lot of workers safe.
There are 3 main types of aerial work platforms. They are scissor lifts, boomlifts and mechanical lifts. These machines could be operated with pneumatics, mechanically making use of a rack and pinion system or with screws or by hydraulics. These models may be self-propelled with controls located at the platform, they may be unpowered models which require an external force to move them or be mounted to a vehicle in order to be transported.
The aerial work platform was created by John L. Grove, an American inventor and industrialist. Nonetheless, in 1966, prior to JLG's very first unit, a company referred to as Selma Manlift launched an aerial lift unit.
In the year 1967, after selling his previous company Grove Manufacturing, John L. Grove together with his wife decided to take a road trip. They decided to stop at Hoover Dam. While the couple was there, Grove unfortunately witnessed 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 safely raise workers in the air for them to perform maintenance and construction jobs in a better way.
When John returned home from his trip, he bought a small metal fabrication company and formed a partnership together with 2 friends. They soon started designing ideas for the aerial work platform. The new company was named JLG Industries Inc. They proudly released their very first aerial work platform in the year 1920 with the aid of 20 employees.