City Cranes
The term "City Crane" means a small 2-axle mobile crane which is designed to be utilized particularly in tight places where standard cranes are unable to venture. These city cranes are popular choices for use through gated areas or within buildings.
City cranes were initially developed during the 1990s as a response to the increasing urban density within Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into the cities in Japan, making it vital 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 single cab, a short chassis and a slanted retractable boom. 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 which will be otherwise unaccessible by other kinds of cranes.
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 can reach over and up an obstacle. Traditional truck cranes do not raise and lower their cargo using any hydraulic power and require separate power in order to move down and up.
Manitowoc built the first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful device although lots of adjustments had to be added later on. 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 means and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.