City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term utilized to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that could operate in tight areas where the standard crane could not access. These city cranes are great alternatives for use through gated places or inside buildings.
In the 1990s, city cranes were initially developed in response to the growing urban density within Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into Japanese cities, making it necessary for a crane to have the ability to navigate the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
Basically, 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 much 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 will be otherwise unaccessible by other crane designs.
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 multiple sections on a lattice boom can be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes need separate power to be able to move down and up and do not raise and lower their cargo with any hydraulic power.
The very first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful device even if further adjustments needed to be added. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He understood the industry was changing 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.