City Cranes
The term "City Crane" refers to a small 2-axle mobile crane which is designed to be utilized specifically in tight places where standard cranes could not venture. These city cranes are great alternatives to be used inside buildings or through gated areas.
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 the cities in Japan, making it necessary 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 which are built 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 a lot 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 that would be otherwise unobtainable by other crane models.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional truck crane is a mobile crane which 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 are able to be added so that the crane could reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes require separate power in order to move down and up and do not raise and lower their loads with any hydraulic power.
The first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful equipment even if further adjustments needed to be added. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He knew the industry was moving towards IC engines from original steam powered methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.