Hydraulic truck cranes are a specific kind of mobile crane. These cranes make use of hydraulics and could lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulics utilizes forces being transmitted through oil pushing in opposite directions on the boom's pistons in order to lift thousands of pounds. Hydraulic truck cranes are important in constructing major projects like for example bridges, airports, roads and buildings. A crane could accomplish in minutes tasks which would normally take hundreds of men and lots of hours to accomplish.
The vast equipments are normally used in the construction of cities, homes, entire nations and individual buildings throughout the ages. Even Egypt's Great Pyramids were probably built using basic cranes to enable the heaviest materials in one of the most amazing construction projects ever.
The very first cranes were established during 3000 B.C. Egypt in the reign of King Ramses. This lifting device was first used to collect water. The very first official "cranes" appeared during Ancient Greece. These devices were utilized to build a whole country throughout the 5th century B.C.
These cranes were originally made out of wood. The designs of cranes started to change when dockyards began to require stronger and bigger equipments. Hick & Rothwell designed the first cast iron cranes in Bolton, England, during the year 1834. This machinery could lift 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 allowed cranes to have a larger 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. Germany began to build cast iron cranes 4 years later. The very first cast iron crane made by Germany was made in Neuburg.