City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that can operate in tight spaces where the standard crane could not access. These city cranes are popular alternatives to be used within buildings or through gated places.
City cranes were originally developed in the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density within Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into the cities in Japan, making it vital for a crane to have the ability to navigate 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 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 independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane could turn in compact spots that will be otherwise unobtainable by other crane designs.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is significantly lighter in weight compared to a hydraulic truck crane boom. The multiple sections on a lattice boom can be added so that the crane could reach up and over an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes need separate power to be able to move down and up and do not lower and raise their loads with any hydraulic power.
Manitowoc built the first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful device although many adjustments had to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He knew the industry was moving 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.