City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which could operate in compact spaces where the typical crane could not access. These city cranes are popular choices to be utilized through gated areas or within buildings.
City cranes were originally developed during the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density within Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it vital for a crane to have the ability to navigate the nooks and crannies of Japanese streets.
Basically, 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 short chassis and the independent steering, the city crane can turn in compact spots that would be otherwise unaccessible by other types of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
Conventional truck cranes are mobile cranes with lattice booms. This boom is much lighter boom than is found with a hydraulic truck crane boom. The many sections on a lattice boom can be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes do not raise and lower their loads using any hydraulic power and need separate power in order to move up and down.
The 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 internal combustion engines from original steam powered means and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.