The GQ42 and GQ52 are two of the most asked about machines in our bar cutting range, and buyers regularly call us weighing one against the other. Here is the comparison we give over the phone, with the actual numbers.
The short answer
The GQ42 cuts 8mm to 16mm bars and starts around ₹75,000. The GQ52 cuts 8mm to 42mm and starts around ₹93,000. If any bar on your current or likely future projects exceeds 16mm, the GQ42 is out of the running and the decision is already made. The rest of this article is for everyone whose work genuinely stays at 16mm and below.
Side by side
| Specification | GQ42 | GQ52 |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting capacity | 8-16mm TMT/HYSD | 8-42mm TMT/HYSD |
| Power supply | 415V, three phase | 415V, three phase |
| Motor | 2.2 kW (3 HP) | 4.0 kW (5.4 HP) |
| Cutting speed | 25 to 30 cuts/min | 20 to 28 cuts/min |
| Weight | Approx 120 kg | Approx 280 kg |
| Starting price | ₹75,000 + GST | ₹93,000 + GST |
Prices are starting figures; contact HMS for current pricing.
Capacity is the whole decision
Everything else in the table is secondary. The GQ42 is built for residential construction, compound walls and small commercial jobs where steel stays at 16mm and below. The GQ52 covers that work and everything up to 42mm, which includes the 20mm, 25mm and 32mm bars common in larger buildings and the bigger diameters used in infrastructure. Our guide on bar cutting capacity explains why we also recommend keeping a margin above your largest bar rather than buying exactly at your limit.
Power requirements are identical
Both machines need a 415V three phase connection. Neither will run on a single phase domestic supply, so site power does not separate them. If your site only has 220V, neither machine works for you, and you should talk to us about alternatives before deciding anything else.
Speed and weight
On small bars the GQ42 is slightly quicker, 25 to 30 cuts a minute against 20 to 28. In practice the difference is minor. The weight difference is not: at roughly 120 kg the GQ42 can be shifted between floors and sites with a small crew, while the 280 kg GQ52 is a machine you position once per project and move with proper equipment. For a contractor who hops between small sites, that portability has real value.
Price: the ₹18,000 question
For about ₹18,000 more, the GQ52 raises your ceiling from 16mm to 42mm. Framed that way, the GQ52 is strong value for any contractor whose business might grow into bigger structural work, because outgrowing a GQ42 means buying a second machine. If the budget stretches further and you want 8-32mm coverage with an Indian motor, the GUTE GQ40 (8-32mm), starting around ₹1,10,000, sits in the middle ground on capacity with a different build proposition. The price guide compares the full range.
Our honest take
Buy the GQ42 only if you are confident your work stays at 16mm and below for the life of the machine: stirrup steel, small residential jobs, compound walls. It is lighter, a little faster on small bars, and ₹18,000 cheaper.
For everyone else, the GQ52 is the safer purchase. Most contractors who start with small residential work take on a project with 20mm or 25mm columns sooner than they expected, and at that point a 16mm machine becomes a second-hand listing. The GQ52 also runs relaxed on small bars, well inside its rating, which is easier on blades and motor over the years.
Still deciding? Read how to choose a bar cutting machine for the full checklist, or call HMS in Bengaluru with your bar schedule. We have supplied cutting machines across South India since 1999 and will tell you plainly if the cheaper machine is enough for your work.
