Kakigori machine recro Si-8B

Ikenaga Iron Works — Osaka, Japan · Since 1930

SWAN Recro SI-8B

Manual professional kakigori machine — cast iron body, stainless steel blade

The SWAN Recro SI-8B is manufactured by Ikenaga Iron Works, an Osaka company producing shaved ice equipment since 1930. It is the manual machine of choice for professional kakigori operators in Japan who prioritize texture control, portability, and front-of-house presence over raw electric throughput.

At 22 kg of cast iron, the SI-8B stays in place during operation without clamping or bracing. Its own weight is the anchor. The stainless steel blade system is adjustable for fine or coarse output: fine produces traditional snow-like shavings that absorb syrup throughout; coarser settings suit operators who prefer a denser texture for specific topping combinations.

Each blade delivers optimal shaving quality for approximately 500 servings. Plan blade changes as a scheduled maintenance item. Running a high-volume service on a degraded blade is the most common quality failure with this machine. Keep a replacement blade in stock before you need one.

Compatible accessories

• Replacement blade for SI-8B — replace every ~500 servings
• Cube ice attachment for SI-8B — use standard cube ice instead of block ice
• Ice block molds and accessories
• Kakigori syrups — 45+ flavors, ships from Japan

Read before buying

• In-depth SI-8B guide — specs, blade maintenance, who it is for
• SI-8B vs Black Swan vs Antarctic — professional machine comparison
• How many bowls per hour? — output benchmarks by machine and staffing