City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which could operate in tight areas where the standard crane could not access. These city cranes are great alternatives for use in buildings or through gated areas.
City cranes were initially developed during the 1990s as a response to the increasing 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 roads.
Essentially, city cranes are small rough terrain cranes that are built 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 can turn in tight spots which 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 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. Traditional truck cranes do not raise and lower their loads using any hydraulic power and need separate power to be able to move down and up.
The very first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful machine even if further adjustments had to be added. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He understood the industry was moving 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.