Crawler Crane
The crawler crane is a specific kind of mobile crane which is offered with either a telescopic boom or a lattice boom which moves upon crawler tracks. As this model is a self-propelled crane, it could move around a jobsite and accomplishing tasks without a lot of set-up. Because of their huge size and weight, crawler cranes are rather pricey and even hard to transport from one place to another. The crawler's tracks provide stability to the equipment and enable the crane to work without using outriggers, however, there are several models that do utilize outriggers. What's more, the tracks provide the equipment's movement.
Early Mobile Cranes
Initially, the first mobile cranes were mounted to train cars and move along specially designed short rail lines. Once the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor evolved and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the construction business as well as the agricultural industry. Not long after, the crawler tracks were adopted by excavators and this further showcased the machine's versatility. It was not long after when manufacturers of cranes decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The First Crawler Crane
In the 1920s, Northwest Engineering, a crane company within the USA, mounted its very first crane on crawler tracks. It described the new machine as a "locomotive crane, independent of tracks and moveable under its own power." By the mid-1920s, crawler tracks had become the preferred means of traction for heavy crane operations.
The Speedcrane
The Moore Speedcrane, developed by Ray and Charles Moore of Chicago, Illinois was amongst the first attempts to copy the rails for cranes. Manufactured within Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was a steam-powered, wheel-mounted, 15 ton crane. During the year 1925, a company referred to as Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin recognized the potential and the marketability of the tracked crane. They decided to team up with the Moore brothers so as to manufacture it and go into business.