Aerial work platform
Mechanical device for temporary elevated access to inaccessible areas.
An aerial work platform—also called an aerial device, aerial lift, boom lift, bucket truck, cherry picker, elevating work platform, mobile elevating work platform, or scissor lift—is a piece of mechanical equipment that gives people or tools temporary access to hard-to-reach spots, typically up high. Unlike permanent fixtures like elevators, these platforms are meant for short-term, flexible use, such as maintenance, construction, or emergency access by firefighters. They are built to handle limited loads—usually under a ton, though some have a higher safe working load—setting them apart from most cranes. Most models can be set up and run by one person.
Beyond just lifting and moving, aerial work platforms can come with extras like electrical outlets or compressed air connectors for power tools. Some are fitted with specialized gear, such as frames for carrying window glass. Underbridge units let operators work below a structure. The name "cherry picker" comes from its original purpose: picking cherries. Jay Eitel invented the device in 1944 after a frustrating day using a ladder, and he later founded Telsta Corporation in Sunnyvale, California, in 1953 to manufacture it. Stemm Brothers in Leavenworth, Washington, was another early maker. Other uses quickly followed.
**Lifting mechanisms**
Different types of aerial work platforms exist, each with features that suit certain jobs. The main difference lies in how the platform is raised. Most are powered by hydraulics or pneumatics, which also affects cost and availability.
**Aerial device** Aerial devices originally ran on hydraulic pistons powered by diesel or gasoline engines on the base unit. Lightweight electric models are becoming popular for indoor tasks like window cleaning or maintenance in tight courtyards, where heavier hydraulic gear won't fit. These devices look similar to cranes, with jointed sections that can extend in multiple directions, including "up and over" applications.
**Articulated** The most common type is the knuckle boom lift or articulated boom lift, named for its bent shape that makes it easy to reach awkward high spots. This is the type most often called a "cherry picker," because it was first designed for orchard work (not just cherries). It lets a person in the basket pick fruit high in a tree with little damage to the branches. The term "cherry picker" has become a gener
- inventor
- Jay Eitel
- year_of_invention
- 1944
- original_purpose
- Picking cherries
- early_manufacturers
- Telsta Corporation (Sunnyvale, California) and Stemm Brothers (Leavenworth, Washington)
- common_types
- Articulated boom lift, straight telescopic boom lift, scissor lift, mast lift, spider lift
- typical_power_sources
- Hydraulics, pneumatics, electric, diesel, gasoline
Lore & Background
As the name suggests, cherry pickers were initially developed to facilitate the picking of cherries. Jay Eitel invented the device in 1944 after a frustrating day spent picking cherries using a ladder. He went on to launch the Telsta Corporation, Sunnyvale, California in 1953 to manufacture the device. Another early cherry picker manufacturer was Stemm Brothers, Leavenworth, Washington. Other uses for cherry pickers quickly evolved.
The most common type of aerial device is known in the AWP industry as knuckle boom lifts or articulated boom lifts, due to their distinctive shape, providing easy access to awkward high reach positions. This type of AWP is the most likely of the types to be known as a "cherry picker," owing to its origins, where it was designed for use in orchards. It lets the picker standing in the transport basket pick fruit high in a tree with relative ease, with the jointed design ensuring minimum damage to the tree.
A scissor lift is a type of platform that can usually only move vertically, using linked, folding supports in a criss-cross X pattern known as a pantograph. The upward motion is achieved by the application of pressure to the outside of the lowest set of supports. The contraction of the scissor action can be hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical, and may require no power to descend, providing a fail-safe option.
Reader's Guide
Aerial work platforms have become essential equipment across numerous industries, providing safe and efficient temporary access to heights. Their significance lies in their ability to replace ladders and scaffolding for many tasks, improving worker safety and productivity. The invention of the cherry picker by Jay Eitel in 1944 for fruit picking quickly expanded into maintenance, construction, firefighting, and utility work. The variety of types—articulated boom lifts, straight telescopic booms, scissor lifts, mast lifts, and spider lifts—allows selection based on specific job requirements, such as reach, terrain, and indoor or outdoor use. The development of self-propelled and vehicle-mounted units further enhanced mobility and convenience. Safety features, such as fail-safe descent mechanisms in scissor lifts and outriggers for stability, have made AWPs a standard recommendation over ladders for work at height in many jurisdictions. Their legacy continues as they evolve with electric and hybrid power options for indoor and environmentally sensitive applications, maintaining their role as a critical tool for temporary elevated access.
Did You Know?
- Jay Eitel invented the cherry picker in 1944 after a frustrating day picking cherries using a ladder.
- The term 'cherry picker' has become generic and is commonly used to describe articulated lifts, and more rarely all AWPs.
- Some AWPs are classified as spider lifts due to the appearance of their legs as they unfold, extend, and stabilise.
- Mast lifts are typically dimensioned to pass through standard 800 mm interior doorways and fit inside goods elevators.
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