Overturning Conventions at a “45-Degree Angle”: 3 Years and 7 Months of Trial and Error Behind Premium Blenders⟨TIGER EDGE⟩

From health-conscious morning smoothies to soups, sauces, and desserts—blenders have evolved beyond drink makers to become versatile kitchen appliances that support everyday cooking. At the same time, if prepping ingredients, setting up, and daily maintenance become cumbersome, people often stop using them over time.

Challenging these conventions from the very angle of the cutter blade is our Premium Blenders⟨TIGER EDGE⟩ SLB-A100. Furthermore, in 2025, we introduced the SLC-A100, which pursues the same exceptional cutting performance in a compact body.

In this interview, we spoke with Satomi Kantani in Product Planning and Taiga Kamei in Product Development about the background and trial-and-error journey behind the ⟨TIGER EDGE⟩ series.

Aiming for Blenders You Want to Use Every Single Day

Released in July 2024, the SLB-A100 is the flagship model positioned at the top of Tiger’s lineup of blenders. With 10 precision speed settings to fine-tune texture, it can be utilized for a wide variety of culinary creations—from smoothies and juices to warm soups and rich dip sauces.

Conventionally, upright blenders have been the standard. As we analyzed existing products, including our own, a recurring pain point became clear: “Even though you are using a blender, you still have to take out a knife and finely chop the ingredients first.” We questioned whether an appliance meant to reduce cooking effort was truly fulfilling its purpose. Thus, our goal was to engineer blenders capable of thoroughly cutting and processing even roughly chopped, larger ingredients.

Another challenge is that blenders are appliances easily relegated to cabinets and drawers. Once put away, taking them out becomes a chore, leading to less frequent use. For this reason, the ⟨TIGER EDGE⟩ series features a simple, premium design rooted in black with refined silver accents—designed to be proudly displayed on your kitchen counter.

The 45-Degree Cutter Angle That Transformed Ingredient and Water Circulation in Blenders

The ⟨TIGER EDGE⟩ series holds the position of “Premium Blenders” within our company. Because it is an investment for our customers, we must fully exceed their expectations. We believe that providing a stress-free, comfortable user experience is our way of giving back for the price paid, which is why we pursued cutting performance without compromise.
Our greatest innovation lies in the “angle” of the cutter. In conventional upright blenders, ingredients circulate horizontally along the cup walls before rising and falling back down into the center to meet the blades. However, this trajectory inevitably wastes time while ingredients travel up and down. To achieve a smoother blend in a shorter time, we focused on the relationship between the cutter angle and fluid flow.

We hypothesized that angling the cutter would create a vertical flow where ingredients are propelled upward and fall directly back down, allowing them to hit the blades more efficiently and enhance cutting performance. However, if the cutter is tilted too horizontally, gravity pulls ingredients down without striking the blades effectively. After repeated prototypes and testing at various angles such as 30 and 60 degrees, we ultimately arrived at “45 degrees.” Developing the SLB-A100 took approximately 3 years and 7 months.
At the same time, we refined the cup shape. If ingredients riding the upward current hit a vertical wall directly above the cutter, the flow breaks. Therefore, we designed a graceful curve connecting the vertical cup walls to the 45-degree angled cutter, ensuring unobstructed space directly above the blades.

When we first began developing the SLB-A100, our primary target market was North America. In a culture where smoothies are a daily staple and frozen fruits are widely available, the ability to blend frozen ingredients directly is essential. It is also common to make large batches and carry them in high-capacity bottles. However, with typical domestic blenders in Japan, using frozen fruits or commercially made ice cubes is often prohibited due to the risk of blade chipping.
To powerfully crush hard ingredients, we increased the thickness of the cutter to roughly 1.5 times that of conventional models. Furthermore, while serrated blades bite into ingredients easily, stress tends to concentrate on their tips. By adopting kitchen-knife-like flat blades, we achieved both outstanding cutting performance and durability.
To support this high cutting capability, we also boosted motor power. To suppress vibration and balance issues caused by a larger motor, we conducted meticulous internal structural refinements.

Released in October 2025, the SLC-A100 is designed for 1 to 3 servings, successfully combining high cutting performance with a compact footprint. To give the unit a slim appearance, we tapered the base while widening the upper profile. However, narrowing the base reduces the footprint, making stability more difficult to maintain. To prevent shaking during operation, we re-evaluated internal component layouts, center of gravity, and vent placements, carefully fine-tuning the body geometry. Additionally, positioning the cup handle diagonally rather than straight out to the side helped minimize overall width.

To maintain high cutting performance even in a compact form, the interior of the SLC-A100 cup features three ribs of varying heights. As liquid passes over these differing heights sequentially, it generates dynamic vertical currents. This circulating loop—where ingredients are lifted high, swirl down the cup, and return to the cutter—is what we call the “Cyclone Flow.” We tested two-rib and four-rib configurations, but the three-rib combination proved most effective for maximizing cutting performance.

Moreover, to ensure even small amounts of ingredients are blended without residue, we minimized the gap between the cutter and the bottom. By offsetting the upper and lower blade angles by 13 degrees and adjusting the horizontal length of the lower blades down to the millimeter, we engineered the blades to sweep as close to the cutter base surface as possible

To encourage daily use, we focused heavily on effortless maintenance and assembly. The SLB-A100 cup has no internal ribs, making it exceptionally smooth and easy to wash with a sponge. Including the three-ribbed SLC-A100, both models feature cups and lids that are dishwasher-safe.

Intuitive assembly was another key priority. For example, installing a gasket incorrectly can cause leakage, so we designed components so users can intuitively recognize any incorrect positioning immediately upon assembly.

Furthermore, because blenders operate with high-speed spinning cutters, safety is paramount. Legally, as long as an appliance passes finger-access tests with the lid open, powering on is permitted; however, to guard against potential hazards, we designed our blenders so they will not operate unless the lid is securely closed. Although using different internal mechanisms, both models incorporate a safe structure featuring a safety lock that prevents operation unless the lid is attached correctly.

Since release, we have received numerous positive reviews from customers. In addition to high praise for smooth textures—such as “I decided to buy after seeing a demonstration of blending a whole apple” and “I love that I can make smoothies directly from frozen fruit and ice”—customers are also delighted with how easy maintenance is and how light and manageable the cup feels.

The compact SLC-A100 is popular for taking up minimal space in kitchens and rooms. We are seeing more instances where people who never used blenders before purchase one to drink smoothies for health, or parents pick one up after their children request it.

People use blenders in countless ways. For example, with the SLB-A100, you can make a fruit and vegetable smoothie in the morning, prepare a warm potage or pasta sauce for dinner, and whip up a frozen dessert after meals—supporting your kitchen all day long. It is also wonderful for making baby food or nursing care meals.

With the SLC-A100, we envision a stylish lifestyle where you prepare a single-serving smoothie in the morning using frozen fruits directly in the personal cup, attach a drinking lid, and enjoy it on the go—saving the effort of pouring into a glass and reducing dirty dishes.

Because it is a product that shines throughout the day, we hope you keep it out on your counter, right beside your dining table.

We would be thrilled if ⟨TIGER EDGE⟩ becomes a trusted companion in your home, supporting not only smoothies but diverse culinary creations, enriching your family’s happy gatherings.