Hydraulic truck cranes are a specific type of mobile crane. These cranes use hydraulics and could lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulics makes use of forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the pistons of the boom in order to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are vital in constructing major projects such as airports, bridges, streets and buildings. A crane can accomplish in minutes tasks that will normally take hundreds of men and lots of hours to complete.
These impressive machines have played a very important role in constructing houses, cities, entire nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were likely built with the help of basic cranes to allow the heaviest materials in one of the most remarkable construction projects ever.
The first representation of a crane was featured during King Ramses' reign in Egypt during 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting device which was utilized to collect water. The very first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were used to create an entire nation during the 5th century B.C.
Initially, cranes were first made out of wood. It wasn't until the designers constructing dockyards decided they needed something stronger and bigger did these equipments evolve. Hick & Rothwell designed the very first cast iron cranes during the year 1834, within Bolton, England. This machine was capable of lifting as much as 2 tons. That very same year, wire ropes were added to the crane by Herr Albert Sr. who was an Official of the German Superior Board. The wire rope made the crane more durable and stronger. This addition enabled cranes to have a bigger capacity for lifting heavy weights.
The wire ropes were weaved together forming a more powerful rope with even more strength. The newly formed wire also added more flexibility. 4 years later, Germany began to build cast iron cranes. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was built within Neuburg.