The hydraulic truck crane is a specialized mobile crane that uses hydraulic power to lift and move thousands of pounds. Hydraulics utilizes forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the pistons of the boom so as to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are very essential in constructing major projects like for instance bridges, airports, streets and buildings. A crane can complete in minutes jobs which will normally take lots of hours and hundreds of men to complete.
The vast equipments are usually used in the construction of cities, homes, whole nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even the Great Pyramids in Egypt were likely built using basic cranes to allow the heaviest materials in one of the most remarkable construction projects of all time.
The first representation of a crane was showcased during the reign of King Ramses in Egypt during 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting mechanism that was used to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These mechanism were used to create a whole nation during the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were originally made out of wood. The designs of cranes began to change when dockyards started to require stronger and larger equipments. Hick & Rothwell designed the first cast iron cranes during 1834, within Bolton, England. This machinery could lift up to 2 tons. That same year, wire ropes were added to the crane by an Official of the German Superior Board, Herr Albert Sr. The wire rope made the crane more durable and stronger. This addition enabled cranes to have a larger 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. 4 years later, Germany started to make cast iron cranes. The first cast iron crane made by Germany was made in Neuburg.