City Cranes
The term "City Crane" means a small 2-axle mobile crane which is designed to be used particularly in compact areas where regular cranes could not venture. These city cranes are popular alternatives for use within buildings or through gated areas.
City cranes were originally developed during the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density within Japan. There are always 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.
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 a lot less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane can turn in compact spots which will be otherwise unobtainable by other crane models.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially lighter in weight compared to 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. Conventional truck cranes do not raise and lower their loads using any hydraulic power and require separate power in order to move up and down.
Manitowoc built the very first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful machine though a lot of 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 methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.