City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which can operate in compact areas where the standard crane could not access. These city cranes are great alternatives to be used within buildings or through gated areas.
In 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 navigate the nooks and crannies of Japanese streets.
Essentially, 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 single cab, a short chassis and a slanted retractable boom. 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 could turn in tight spots that would be otherwise unobtainable by other kinds of cranes.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially lighter in weight than a hydraulic truck crane boom. The many sections on a lattice boom can be added so that the crane can reach up and over 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 very first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful device even though 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 methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.