TADANO MANTIS Corporation continues the development and production of MANTIS hydraulic telescopic-boom crawler cranes originally introduced by SpanDeck, Inc in 1979. The earliest models, the 2010 and 2610 were of 10 and 13-tons (9 and 11.7-tonnes) capacity and with their compact dimensions were designed primarily for use in the tank-building industry. Industries such as power transmission line erection and bridge construction soon discovered the Mantis which brought about the development of the higher capacity 3612, an 18-ton (16.3-tonne) capacity model in 1981 and the 5012 a 25 ton (22.5-tonne) in 1983.

As well as building crawler cranes the company expanded its technical capabilities through successful completion of several high-visibility, prestigious and challenging crane design and manufacturing contracts including:

• Designer and manufacturer of 44 rubber-tired, air-transportable, 14-ton (12.7-tonne) capacity cargo-handling cranes for the US Navy Seabees;
• Designer and manufacturer for the Army Corps of Engineers on several rail-mounted lock and dam maintenance cranes;
• Designer and manufacturer for the New York City Transit Authority and Chicago Transit Authority for over 30 light rail maintenance-of-way pedestal and rail car mounted cranes;
• Developer of cranes and crawler transporters for use in Antarctica by the US National Science Foundation, British Antarctic Services and the Indian National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research.

MANTIS Cranes entered the railroad market in the late 1980s with a rail-mounted heavy equipment transporter for railroad maintenance-of-way service. This product was followed in 1991 with the Mantis 30011, a rerailing truck-mounted crane with a rated capacity of 150-tons @ 11ft radius (136-tonnes @ 3.3m). Class one railroads and the contractors that serve them have deployed 30011s throughout the world. In 2007 Mantis introduced the 200RS 100-ton (100-tonnes) telescopic boom crawler crane developed to further assist in the clearing and recovery efforts following derailments.

Over the past 20 years TADANO MANTIS has introduced and updated its crawler crane line. Today the line consists of nine models: the 6010 30-tons (27-tonnes), 6010LP (a compact dimension version of the 6010), the 8012 40-tons (36-tonnes), 9010 45-tons (40-tonnes) the 10010Mx 50-tons (45-tonnes), the 14010 70-tons (63-tonnes), the 15010 (70-tones), 20010 100-tons (90-tonnes) and the 200RS 100 tons(90-tonnes). This represents the broadest and most advanced range of telescopic boom crawler cranes manufactured by any company worldwide thanks to the ever more diverse applications presented by Mantis users.

In December 2008, TADANO, Ltd. acquired Spandeck, Inc. and the MANTIS crawler crane product line. The TADANO MANTIS 15010 was the first introduction after the acquisition in late 2009. TADANO MANTIS cranes are enjoying success throughout the world with general construction companies, foundation contractors, tunneling and highway constructors, crane rental companies, railroads, research agencies, as well pipeline, oil field and power line contractors.

In 2014, Tadano Mantis Corporation celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the Mantis telescopic boom crawler crane. During this anniversary year, the 130 ton (120t) capacity GTC-1200 was introduced as the largest purpose built telescopic boom crawler with a full power telescopic boom. The crane was derived from a blank sheet design, and capitalized on using the best combination of technology from the Tadano Group companies to deliver the new crane which leads the market in lifting capacity, design features, and TADANO MANTIS cranes are enjoying success throughout the world with general construction companies, foundation contractors, tunneling and highway constructors, crane rental companies, railroads, research agencies, as well pipeline, oil field and power line contractors.