Hydraulic truck cranes are a specialized kind of mobile crane. These cranes make use of hydraulics and can lift 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 really essential in constructing major projects such as bridges, airports, streets and buildings. A crane can accomplish in minutes jobs which would normally take hundreds of men and many hours to accomplish.
These remarkable machinery have played a very important part in constructing cities, houses, individual buildings and entire nations throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were likely constructed using basic cranes to allow the heaviest supplies in one of the most awesome construction projects of all time.
The first representation of a crane was featured during King Ramses' reign within Egypt in 3000 B.C. This was a portrayal of a lifting device which was used to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared during Ancient Greece. These devices were used to build an entire country throughout the 5th century B.C.
Initially, cranes were first made out of wood. It wasn't until the designers building dockyards decided they needed something stronger and bigger did these equipments develop. Hick & Rothwell designed the very first cast iron cranes in the year 1834, within Bolton, England. This equipment was capable of lifting up to 2 tons. That very 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 allowed cranes to have a bigger capacity to lift heavy weights.
Eventually, the wire ropes were weaved together to be able to form an even more powerful strength. This wire formation also brought the added advantage of flexibility. 4 years later, Germany started to make cast iron cranes. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was made in Neuburg.