Hydraulic truck cranes are a specific type of mobile crane. These cranes make use of hydraulics and can lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulics makes use of forces being transmitted through oil pushing on the pistons of the boom in opposite directions so as to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are really important in constructing major projects such as bridges, airports, buildings and roads. A crane can complete in minutes tasks which would normally take many hours and hundreds of men to complete.
These remarkable equipments have played a vital part in constructing houses, cities, entire nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were likely built utilizing basic cranes to enable the heaviest materials in one of the most amazing construction projects of all time.
The very 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 utilized to collect water. The very first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were used to build an entire nation during the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were originally made out of wood. The designs of cranes began to change when dockyards began to require stronger and bigger equipments. Hick & Rothwell developed the very first cast iron cranes in 1834, in Bolton, England. This equipment 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 stronger and more durable. This addition enabled 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 benefit of flexibility. Germany began to build cast iron cranes 4 years later. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was made within Neuburg.