City Cranes
"City Crane" is a term used to define small 2-axle mobile cranes which could operate in compact spaces where the standard crane cannot access. These city cranes are popular alternatives for use within buildings or through gated areas.
During 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 maneuver through 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 a lot less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the short chassis and the independent steering, the city crane could turn in compact spots that will be otherwise unaccessible by other kinds 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 could be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Traditional truck cranes do not lower and raise their loads with any hydraulic power and need separate power in order to move down and up.
Manitowoc made the very first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful machine although many adjustments had to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He knew the industry was changing towards IC engines from original steam powered means and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.