Hydraulic truck cranes are a specific kind of mobile crane. These cranes utilize hydraulics and can lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulics uses forces being transmitted through oil pushing on the pistons of the boom in opposite directions in order to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are essential in constructing major projects such as bridges, airports, streets and buildings. A crane can accomplish in minutes jobs which will normally take many hours and hundreds of men to accomplish.
These impressive machines have played a vital part in constructing cities, houses, individual buildings and entire nations throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were probably built with the help of basic cranes to allow the heaviest materials in one of the most remarkable construction projects ever.
The very first representation of a crane was featured during the reign of King Ramses within Egypt during 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting mechanism which was utilized to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were used to build an entire nation in the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were initially made out of wood. The designs of cranes started to change when dockyards started to require stronger and larger machines. Hick & Rothwell developed the first cast iron cranes in Bolton, England, in 1834. This equipment was capable of lifting up to 2 tons. That very same year, the addition of wire rope was added to the crane by Herr Albert Sr. who was an Official of the German Superior Board. The wire rope made the crane stronger and more durable. This addition enabled cranes to have a bigger capacity to lift 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. Germany began to make cast iron cranes 4 years later. The first cast iron crane made by Germany was built within Neuburg.