“We were doing granite countertops through a subcontractor,” said Thomas Giordano Jr., who owns Til-Mar Designs with his father, Thomas Giordano Sr. “It came to a point that we didn't want to rely on anyone any more. We already had the work locked in, so it was a good time to make a leap.”

The first major purchase by the company was a Sheng Da ZDCQ-400 bridge saw sold through Granite City Tool of Waite Park, MN. “We had contacted [Granite City Tool] about a couple of different saws,” said Giordano. “They informed us of a new one -- the Sheng Da ZDCQ-400. I was apprehensive at first, but it's a great saw. It's manufactured in China.”