Manufacturing Veteran Follows the Ups And Downs of Hydraulic Cranes in New Book
Crane technology started to evolve substantially during the rough-and-ready post-war buildup in 1945-1955, when need for speed forced the development of hydraulic power transmission. New controls made the machines quieter, smoother, faster and safer in the hands of operators.
The industrys adoption of hydraulic cylinders has replaced clutches and cables on many thousands of cranes and excavators. The telescopic boom hoisted once-underfunded manufacturers to the top, while many diversified company giants lost their edge and fell into the junk yards of construction lore.