The hydraulic truck crane is a specific mobile crane that uses hydraulic power to lift 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 really important in constructing major projects like airports, bridges, streets and buildings. A crane can complete in minutes jobs which would normally take hundreds of men and lots of hours to complete.
These impressive machinery have played a very important part in constructing cities, houses, individual buildings and entire nations throughout the ages. Even the Great Pyramids within Egypt were probably constructed using basic cranes to enable the heaviest supplies in one of the most amazing construction projects ever.
The first representation of a crane was showcased 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 mechanism were utilized to create an entire nation in the 5th century B.C.
Initially, cranes were first made out of wood. It wasn't until the designers constructing dockyards decided they needed something stronger and larger did these equipments evolve. Hick & Rothwell developed the very first cast iron cranes in 1834, in Bolton, England. This machinery could lift as much as 2 tons. That 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 more durable and stronger. This addition allowed cranes to have a bigger capacity for lifting heavy weights.
Ultimately, 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. Germany started to make cast iron cranes 4 years later. The first cast iron crane built by Germany was made within Neuburg.