City Cranes
The term "City Crane" refers to a small 2-axle mobile crane which is made to be used specifically in compact areas where standard cranes could not venture. These city cranes are great alternatives to be used through gated areas or in buildings.
During 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 Japanese cities, making it necessary 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 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 tight spots which would 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 substantially lighter in weight compared to 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 require separate power in order to move down and up and do not raise and lower their cargo with any hydraulic power.
Manitowoc made the first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful device though many adjustments needed 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 internal combustion engines from original steam powered methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.