City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that could operate in compact areas where the standard crane could not access. These city cranes are great choices to be utilized through gated areas or within buildings.
During the 1990s, city cranes were originally developed in response to the growing urban density in Japan. There are always new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it necessary for a crane to have the ability to maneuver through the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
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 short chassis, a slanted retractable boom and a single cab. The slanted retractable boom design takes up less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the short chassis and the independent steering, the city crane is capable of turning in tight spots which would be otherwise unaccessible by other types of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional truck crane is a mobile crane that has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially lighter in weight compared to a hydraulic truck crane boom. The many sections on a lattice boom are able to be added so that the crane could reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes need separate power in order to move up and down and do not lower and raise their cargo with any hydraulic power.
The first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful device even though further adjustments had to be added. 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.