Machinery buying guideLast updated October 2026

Bridge Saw

The heart of every countertop shop.

See bridge saw vendorsPost an RFQ
Price level
Premium
Best to buy
Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct
Top sources
Italy flagUSA flagChina flag
Bridge-mounted diamond saw with a large blade in a stone shop

Photo: Eric T Gunther, CC BY 3.0

Overview

What it is

The bridge saw is the core machine of every fabrication shop: a single diamond blade on a bridge that travels over a worktable, cutting slabs to size for countertops, vanities, stairs and tiles.

Modern 5-axis bridge saws add a tilting and rotating head, CNC control, vacuum manipulators that move pieces around the table, and cameras that photograph the slab so parts can be nested on the actual veining. Some combine a saw and a waterjet head in one machine.

Stage
Fabrication (slab to pieces)
Blade
About 350 to 625 mm diameter
Axes
3 (manual) to 5 (CNC, tilt and rotate)
Options
Waterjet head, vacuum lifter, slab camera
Table
Fixed or tilting for loading slabs

Applications

Best used for

  • Countertops and vanitiesAccurate cuts on 2 and 3 cm slabs.
  • Mitred edges45° cuts for thick-look edges and waterfalls.
  • Tiles and stripsBatch cutting from offcuts.
  • Growing shopsA 5-axis saw replaces hours of manual handling.

Options

Configurations

  • Entry level

    3-axis manual

    Straight cuts with a manual head tilt. Low cost, labour-heavy.

  • Mainstream

    5-axis CNC

    Head tilts and rotates; cuts mitres, shapes and sink openings.

  • High end

    Saw + waterjet

    Saw for straight cuts, waterjet for curves and inside corners.

Origins

Which countries to source from

The producing countries that matter for bridge saw, what each is known for, and a direct link to vendors there.
  • Italy flag

    Italy Leading source

    The widest range of premium saws

    • Donatoni
    • GMM
    • Breton
    • Prussiani
    • Intermac
    Vendors in Italy
  • USA flag

    USA

    Saws built for the North American market

    • Park Industries
    Vendors in USA
  • China flag

    China

    Affordable 5-axis machines

    • Hualong and other Fujian makers
    Vendors in China

Timing

Best time of year to buy

Buy around the big fairs: Xiamen and Marmomac Brazil in March, Coverings in April and Marmomac Verona in late September. Makers launch models and offer show pricing.

  1. Jan: normal
  2. Feb: normal
  3. Mar: best time to buy
  4. Apr: best time to buy
  5. May: normal
  6. Jun: normal
  7. Jul: normal
  8. Aug: slower or pricier
  9. Sep: best time to buy
  10. Oct: best time to buy
  11. Nov: normal
  12. Dec: normal
Best time to buy Normal Slower or pricier
  • Italian makers close for about three weeks in August; orders placed in July often slip to September.
  • Chinese makers close for Lunar New Year; order by early December for spring delivery.
  • Large lines are built to order: expect three to nine months from deposit to commissioning.
  • Plan installation for your own slow season so the changeover doesn't cost production.

Import costs

Tariffs and import duties

Base duties for the main import markets, the extra US surcharge by origin, and the trade remedies to check before you quote a landed price.

HS codes

  • 8464.10Sawing machines for stone

Base import duty (MFN)

  • United StatesFreeHTS 8464.10, sawing machines.
  • European Union2.2%
  • United Kingdom2%

Importing into the US? Add the 2026 origin surcharge

Section 301 rates in force since 24 July 2026, stacked on the MFN rate above.

  • Italy flagItaly10% min.Section 301 (2026) tops the duty up to at least 10% in total; no surcharge if MFN is already higher.
  • USA flagUSAMFN onlyNot on the July 2026 Section 301 list: MFN rate only.
  • China flagChina+12.5% & 30112.5% Section 301 (2026) plus the legacy China Section 301 duty (25% on most stone and machinery lines), on top of MFN.
  • China-origin machines also carry the legacy US Section 301 duty (25% on most machinery lines) on top of the 2026 surcharge.
  • Steel-heavy equipment can fall under US Section 232 derivative tariffs; if it does, the 2026 Section 301 surcharge does not apply. Check the current derivatives list.
  • China-origin machines currently incur an additional 12.5 percent duty under Section 301 for forced labor, raising the total effective tariff for these goods.
  • Section 122 duties are no longer applicable to these imports.

Rates checked October 2026. Indicative rates for planning, not a customs ruling. Duties depend on the exact tariff line, origin, trade agreements and the rules in force on the day of entry. Confirm with a licensed customs broker before you price an order.

Before you order

Buying checklist

  1. 1Buy for your jobs: 5-axis pays back on mitres, sinks and complex tops.
  2. 2Check blade diameter and motor power for 3 cm quartzite.
  3. 3Is CAM and nesting software included? What do licences cost?
  4. 4A vacuum manipulator saves labour and breakage.
  5. 5Confirm local technicians, training and spare-parts stock.
  6. 6Specify voltage and electrical certification for your country.

Price level: Manual saws are affordable; 5-axis CNC saws with software are a major investment.

Vendor Network

Ready to source bridge saw?

Compare verified suppliers, or post an RFQ and let them come to you with quotes.

See bridge saw vendorsPost an RFQ

Keep reading

More in Machinery

Italy flagChina flagTurkey flagIndia flag

Quarry Diamond Wire Saw

Pulls a diamond-beaded wire loop through the rock to make primary cuts and square blocks. The standard extraction method for marble and granite.

  • Primary cuts
  • Squaring blocks
  • Where blasting is restricted

Best to buy: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct

Read guideSee wire saw vendors
Italy flagChina flagTurkey flag

Quarry Chain Saw

A giant, rail-mounted chain saw with carbide or diamond teeth. Ideal for marble, limestone and travertine quarries and gallery mining.

  • Marble, limestone and travertine quarries
  • Underground quarrying
  • Undercuts

Best to buy: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct

Read guideSee chain saw vendors
Sweden flagJapan flagItaly flagChina flag

Quarry Drilling Rig

Line drills and down-the-hole rigs that thread wire saws, guide splitting and prepare controlled blasts.

  • Threading holes for wire saws
  • Line drilling
  • Squaring and splitting

Best to buy: Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct

Read guideSee drilling rig vendors
All 13 guides