JLG Industries :: Robotic Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), Telehandlers & Aerial Access Equipment

JLG Industries, Inc., founded in 1969 by John L. Grove in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), telehandlers, and aerial access equipment. A subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation since 2006, JLG operates manufacturing facilities across the United States, Europe, and Asia, supported by an extensive international dealer network. The company serves construction, industrial maintenance, warehousing, infrastructure, and rental markets with a strong commitment to safety, innovation, reliability, and operator productivity. JLG revolutionized the industry with the first self-propelled boom lift and continues to set standards for elevated work platforms and material handlers.

While historically focused on operator-driven machines, JLG has made significant investments in robotics, autonomy, and intelligent systems. Their modern equipment increasingly functions as sophisticated mobile robotic platforms designed for both traditional and automated job sites. The company’s flagship developments in this area include autonomous and semi-autonomous telehandlers. These robotic material handlers integrate LiDAR, stereo cameras, AI-driven perception systems, inertial measurement units, and advanced path-planning algorithms to enable driverless navigation, automatic load pickup and placement, obstacle avoidance, and precision stacking in dynamic environments such as construction sites, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities.

JLG’s Connected telematics platform, known as ClearSky, serves as the digital backbone for these robotic systems. It provides real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, geofencing, performance analytics, and remote diagnostics, enabling seamless integration into larger fleet management and construction robotics ecosystems. Additional robotic features across the product line include automatic load sensing and stability control, auto-leveling on uneven terrain, teach-and-repeat functionality, remote operation capabilities, and integration with Building Information Modeling (BIM) for task automation.

The company’s boom lifts, scissor lifts, and vertical mast products now incorporate sensor fusion, automatic positioning assistance, and safety systems that support human-robot collaboration. Electrification initiatives complement these advancements, with battery-electric models offering quiet, zero-emission operation ideally suited for indoor and urban robotic applications. JLG’s approach combines decades of rugged mechanical engineering expertise with modern robotics technologies such as SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), computer vision, and multi-vehicle coordination.

These robot-based solutions address critical industry challenges including labor shortages, workplace safety, and the need for higher productivity. JLG continues to expand its autonomous portfolio through internal research and development as well as strategic technology partnerships. Their equipment is increasingly deployed in automated warehouses, modern construction projects, ports, and large industrial complexes where repetitive or hazardous tasks can be safely automated. By evolving traditional heavy equipment into intelligent, connected robotic systems, JLG is playing a vital role in the digital transformation of construction and industrial material handling while maintaining the highest standards for safety certification and reliability in demanding environments.