City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that could operate in compact areas where the typical crane cannot access. These city cranes are great alternatives for use in buildings or through gated places.
During the 1990s, city cranes were initially developed in response to the growing 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 steer through the nooks and crannies of Japanese streets.
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 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 compact spots which would be otherwise unaccessible by other types 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 can be added so that the crane could reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes do not lower and raise their cargo with any hydraulic power and require separate power to be able to move down and up.
Manitowoc made the very first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful machine though lots of adjustments had to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He understood the industry was changing towards IC engines from original steam powered means and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.