McConnellsburg, PA - JLG Industries Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company and a leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms and telescopic material handlers, has been recognized for its LiftPod portable aerial work platform as a Gold winner in the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), which were announced July 29.

"The LiftPod is an ingenious take on an age-old commercial problem," said 2009 IDEA juror Stephen Melamed, IDSA, 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 a 18V cordless drill or a battery powerpack is extremely clever."

Along with 1,631 entries in the competition, the LiftPod was one of 31 to receive a Gold award. As a Gold winner, JLG will be honored at the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) International Conference in September in Miami, and will also be featured in IDSA's Innovation Yearbook. The IDEA competition, a celebration of year's most innovative and exciting product and product concept designs, is one of the world's most prestigious and recognizable design competitions. The program is presented IDSA and sponsored by BusinessWeek, Target and Autodesk.

"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 Mellott, 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. We're proud to offer access equipment as innovative as the LiftPod, which changes the way people work at heights."

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 is a lightweight tool that can be used for a number of maintenance, repair and renovation jobs in almost any building type. An attachable work tray holds tools and materials, and the enclosed platform allows users to move around and efficiently work with both hands. The LiftPod can be assembled by a single person in less than 30 seconds, and it can be transported site-to-site in the back of a pick-up truck, van or SUV.