City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that can operate in tight areas where the standard crane cannot access. These city cranes are great alternatives for use through gated places or within buildings.
City cranes were originally developed in the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density in Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into the cities in Japan, making it necessary for a crane to have the ability to maneuver through the nooks and crannies of Japanese streets.
Basically, city cranes are small rough terrain cranes which 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 that would be otherwise unaccessible by other kinds of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional 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 are able to be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes need separate power to be able to move up and down and do not lower and raise their cargo utilizing 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 moving towards internal combustion engines from original steam powered means and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.