City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes that can operate in tight areas where the typical crane could not access. These city cranes are popular choices to be utilized within buildings or through gated areas.
City cranes were initially developed in the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density in 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 roads.
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 short chassis, a slanted retractable boom and a single cab. The slanted retractable boom design takes up much less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the short chassis and the independent steering, the city crane is capable of turning in tight spots that would be otherwise unaccessible by other crane designs.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which 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 could be added so that the crane could reach up and over an obstacle. Traditional truck cranes require separate power in order to move up and down and do not lower and raise their loads with any hydraulic power.
The very first ever Speedcrane was made by Manitowoc. It was a successful machine 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.