City Cranes
The term "City Crane" means a small 2-axle mobile crane that is designed to be used specifically in compact areas where standard cranes could not venture. These city cranes are great choices to be utilized 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 always 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.
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 slanted retractable boom, a single cab and a short chassis. 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 which will be otherwise unobtainable by other crane designs.
Conventional Truck Crane
A conventional 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 could 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 first ever Speedcrane was built by Manitowoc. It was a successful machine even though 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.