City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which can operate in tight areas where the typical crane cannot access. These city cranes are popular alternatives to be utilized in 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 steer through the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
Essentially, 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 slanted retractable boom, a single cab and a short chassis. 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 is capable of turning in compact spots which would be otherwise unobtainable by other kinds of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional truck crane is a mobile crane that 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 can reach up and over an obstacle. Traditional truck cranes do not raise and lower their loads 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 although a lot of 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 changing 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.