The hydraulic truck crane is a specific mobile crane which uses hydraulic power to raise and transport thousands of pounds. Hydraulics uses 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 building major projects like for example airports, bridges, buildings and streets. A crane could complete in minutes tasks that will normally take hundreds of men and many hours to accomplish.
The vast machines are usually used in the building of cities, homes, whole nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were probably constructed with the help of basic cranes to enable the heaviest materials in one of the most remarkable construction projects of all time.
The very first cranes were established during 3000 B.C. Egypt during King Ramses' reign. This lifting mechanism was originally used to collect water. The first official "cranes" appeared in Ancient Greece. These devices were used to create an entire country 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These cranes were originally made out of wood.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 need stronger and larger equipments. Hick & Rothwell developed the very first cast iron cranes in the year 1834, in Bolton, England. 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 allowed 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 started to make cast iron cranes. The very first cast iron crane built by Germany was built in Neuburg.