The hydraulic truck crane is a specialized mobile crane that uses hydraulic power to raise and transport thousands of pounds. Hydraulics makes use of forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the boom's pistons in order to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are important in constructing major projects such as bridges, airports, buildings and streets. A crane could accomplish in minutes tasks that will normally take hundreds of men and many hours to accomplish.
The great machines are commonly utilized in the construction of cities, homes, entire nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were likely built using basic cranes to allow the heaviest materials in one of the most amazing construction projects of all time.
The first representation of a crane was featured during the reign of King Ramses in Egypt in 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting device that was used to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were utilized to create a whole country in the 5th century B.C.
Initially, cranes were first made out of wood. It wasn't until the designers constructing dockyards decided they needed something stronger and larger did these machines develop. Hick & Rothwell designed the very first cast iron cranes in Bolton, England, in the year 1834. This equipment can lift as much as 2 tons. That same year, wire ropes were added to the crane by an Official of the German Superior Board, Herr Albert Sr. The wire rope made the crane more durable and stronger. This addition enabled cranes to have a bigger capacity for lifting heavy weights.
Eventually, the wire ropes were weaved together to be able to form an even more powerful strength. This wire formation also brought the added advantage of flexibility. 4 years later, Germany began to make cast iron cranes. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was built within Neuburg.