City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which could operate in compact spaces where the typical crane cannot access. These city cranes are great choices for use through gated areas or inside buildings.
City cranes were originally developed during the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density within Japan. There are always new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it vital for a crane to have the ability to maneuver through the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
Essentially, 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 single cab, a short chassis and a slanted retractable boom. The slanted retractable boom design takes up much less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane is capable of turning in tight spots which will be otherwise unobtainable by other types of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially 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 do not raise and lower their cargo with any hydraulic power and require separate power to be able to move up and down.
Manitowoc made the very first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful device though lots of adjustments needed to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He knew the industry was changing 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.