City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which can operate in tight spaces where the standard crane cannot access. These city cranes are great choices for use in buildings or through gated areas.
City cranes were initially developed in the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density in Japan. There are always new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it vital for a crane to have the ability to navigate the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
Basically, city cranes are small rough terrain cranes that are made to be road legal. These cranes are characterized by having a 2-axle design with independent steering on each axle, a slanted retractable boom, a single cab and a short chassis. The slanted retractable boom design takes up less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane can turn in tight spots which would be otherwise unaccessible by other kinds of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional truck crane is a mobile crane that has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is significantly lighter in weight than a hydraulic truck crane boom. The many sections on a lattice boom could be added so that the crane could reach over and up an obstacle. Traditional truck cranes need separate power in order to move down and up and do not raise and lower their cargo with any hydraulic power.
Manitowoc made the very first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful machine although lots of adjustments needed to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He understood the industry was changing towards internal combustion engines from original steam powered methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.