JLG Industries was recently recognized for its LiftPod portable aerial work platform as a Gold winner in the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards. The award adds to a long list of awards the LiftPod has received, including RER’s 2008 Innovative Product of the Year.

“The LiftPod is an ingenious take on an age-old commercial problem,” said 2009 IDEA juror Stephen Melamed, principal, Tres Design Group. “Creating a machine that can be transported and set up by one person makes this an ideal solution for a variety of applications. Developing a gearing system that can drive the platform up and down with an 18-V cordless drill or a battery powerpack is extremely clever.”

The LiftPod was one of 31 to receive a Gold Award out of 1,631 entries to the competition. As a Gold winner, JLG will be honored at the Industrial Designers Society of America International Conference in Miami in September and will be featured in IDSA’s Innovation Yearbook.

“It’s an honor to receive this significant award and to be recognized for the LiftPod, a portable and affordable product that gives workers new-found freedom and a stable environment to do their jobs,” said Chris Mellot, JLG Industries vice president sales and market development, the Americas. “Fall protection, ladders and scaffolding were all among OSHA’s top 10 most frequently cited standards in fiscal year 2008.”

The LiftPod features a 14-foot working height and is operated using a common 18-volt drill or optional power pack. At 25 percent the cost and weight of traditional work platforms, the LiftPod can be used in maintenance, repair and renovation jobs in almost any building. Features include an attachable work tray. The unit is small enough to be transported in a pick-up truck, van or SUV and is designed to be assembled by a single person in less than 30 seconds.

JLG Industries, an Oshkosh Corp. company, is based in McConnellsburg, Pa.