Small office shredders often get the short end of the stick as manufacturers save the best features for the biggest machines. But the Fellowes Powershred C-220C offers a great combination of power, size, and features. Designed for use in a small office, this device offers convenient electronic control as well as a powerful motor for all day shredding. Let’s take a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Powershred C-220C Cross Cut Paper Shredder.

Strengths:

Even the most inexperienced users can easily operate this machine. All you have to do is insert your documents and the device automatically turns on and shreds. When all the items are through, the blades will stop on their own. An automatic safety stop is triggered by a full shred basket, paper jam, or an open cabinet door. When a jam happens, the Turbo Jam Release will help prevent complete clogging of the machine by releasing the overfed paper.
The motor is powerful enough to provide all day shredding without frequent cool down periods. Thermal protection makes the continuous operation possible by preventing overheating of the engine.
The 9.5 inch throat easily takes in letter and legal size documents with room to spare. As many as 14 sheets can enter the blades at once, including stapled and paperclipped documents as well as credit cards. Everything shreds at a fast pace of 20 feet per minute, leaving only 5/32″ by 1″ pieces. These particles are small enough to earn a medium level 3 security rating. At this level, most office documents stay secure, including confidential business information and personal data.
Paper chads are deposited into a large 15 gallon shred bag. The container pulls out for easy removal and replacement of the bag. The door of the shred cabinet provides a convenient storage space for extra oil, bags, and manuals so you have what you need at your fingertips.
Fellowes backs this product with a limited lifetime warranty on the blades and three year coverage for the rest of the machine.

Weaknesses:

The paper remnants only provide a level 3 security rating. While this is fine for most shredding and will keep your office FACTA compliant, top secret and highly classified material should be put through a high security device with at least a level 5 rating. If your office requires NSA approval, we recommend the Fellowes HS-400.
Unlike the strip cut version of this shredder, this model doesn’t accept CDs and DVDs. This is common on cross cut shredders and doesn’t always impinge on normal office shredding needs. If you’re looking to shred disks as well, check out the C-220.

Clearly the C-220C is aptly fit for the moderate shredding needs of a busy small office. With both convenient and efficient functions, this small office shredder is in a class of its own. Rarely do you see high tech jam options or a continuous duty motor on this size device. As such, we highly recommend the Fellowes Powershred C-220C for your next office shredder.

The Dahle 30104 paper shredder is a strip-cut shredder with a Level 2 security rating. It’s capable of shredding up to 10 sheets of 20 lb paper in a single pass. That means you can feasibly shred up to 100 sheets of paper per day. This shredder has an 8.75-inch throat that can accommodate both legal- and letter-sized paper, and it has an automatic on/off switch which is both convenient and a great safety feature because it automatically shuts down the machine if the wastebasket door is open. (The wastebasket has an 8-gallon capacity.)

The 30104 has steel blades that can destroy paper, paper fasteners, and credit cards. These features make it a good choice for your everyday shredding needs. Plus, the 30104 was designed so it could be easily stored under a desk, so it will always been nearby for easy shredding. Finally, the 30104 has a thermally protected motor that prevents the shredder from overheating and thus, saves you the hassle and expense of repairs and possible replacement.

Meanwhile, the Dahle 30114 has a lot of the same features as the 30104. They share the same size of throat, have similar shredding capacities (although the 30114′s is slightly lower – it can shred about 6 sheets at once), the same automatic on/off switch, the same wastebasket capacity, thermally protected motors, and so on. Plus, they even look alike. However, the 30114 is definitely a step up from the 30104 in one very important way. This is a cross-cut shredder, which automatically means it will offer more security than the 30104, which is a strip-cut machine. The 30114 has a Level 3 security rating, so this is the machine to get if you handle a lot of sensitive information and need more security than the 30104 can offer.

When it comes right down to it, the Dahle 30104 and 30114 paper shredders could be twins, if it weren’t for the fact that the 30114 offers better security due to its being a strip-cut shredder. Both of these machines have a two-year warranty on parts, as well as a lifetime warranty on the cutting mechanism. These shredders are both well-built, easy to use, and are small enough to be deskside shredders, making them very convenient. The 30104 is the least expensive one of the two, so if you’re watching your budget, you may want to go with that machine. But if security and peace of mind is vital, the Dahle 30114 would be the better choice simply because it offers more security. Whatever paper shredder you choose, make sure it is one that fits your needs and also won’t break the bank. That is the key to making a wise paper shredder purchase.

For industrial amounts of shredding, businesses need a heavy duty machine that can keep up. An ideal solution for this is the Formax FD 8902CC. Offering high capacities and easy to use features, this shredder provides the strength needed while retaining convenience. Let’s take a closer look at the powerful 8902CC.

Strengths:

While many of the features are completely automated, you have the choice between automatic and manual operation. With auto start and stop, items are sensed as they enter the feed and the blades shred on cue. Manual operation simply turns the machine on for constant feeding and works especially well for smaller items and tape. An LED control panel shows current operational status as well as providing user alerts to any issues.
Although this is an industrial machine, Formax didn’t skimp on safety features. Across the front of the machine stretches a wide 18″ emergency shut off bar. If someone leans over toward the blades, their weight against the bar will activate the shut off to prevent their hands from accidentally coming into contact with running blades. A safety lock and key ensures that only authorized personnel can use the machine.
A large worktable around the conveyor belt provides storage for items waiting to be shred. The belt allows you to toss stacks on and let the machine feed itself. The solid steel blades can handle cardboard, tapes, ribbons, entire files, stacks of computer forms, CDs, and magnetic disks for a truly versatile shredder.
Items slide in through a wide 21 inch feed. Stacks of paper up to 650 sheets can enter at once. Materials are processed at a rapid 35 feet per minute and come out in small pieces only 5/16″ by 1-1/2″-3″ in size. These paper remnants provide a level 2 security rating that is great for general office shredding.
The paper chads exit via conveyor belt into a massive 102 gallon mobile shred bin. When the bin is full or the cabinet door is open, a safety shut off cuts power to the motor to prevent accidental injury.
This product has a one year warranty with lifetime coverage on the blades.

Weaknesses:

The pieces created, though cross cut, only offer a low level 2 security rating. This is fine for most office shredding. But any confidential data should go through a level 3 shredder. A comparable device to this with a level 3 rating is the Intimus S16.50 6mm x 15-50mm.
As with most industrial shredders, this one is extremely heavy. There are casters on the bottom of the shred bin but not the machine itself. We recommend using a heavy duty appliance dolly as well as a few helpers if you need to move it around.

As you can see, the 8902CC is perfect for the high volume shredding needs of any business. Large industries and companies will appreciate the high capacities and fast speeds found on this machine. And with solid steel blades backed by lifetime warranty, you know you’re getting a quality product. The convenience and efficiency found on the Formax FD 8902CC make this an excellent choice for your next industrial size shredder.

Personal shredders are becoming more popular in home and small offices around the world. One unique device is the HSM Shredstar Multishred Level 3 Cross Cut Multimedia Paper Shredder. It not only shreds paper but also a variety of media for an all in one machine. Compact dimensions allow it to store in even the tightest of spaces for easy access while automatic functions provide simple operation. Here is a closer look at the pros and cons of the Shredstar Multishred.

Pros:

The petite size of this device allow it to be stored on or under your desk for access at your fingertips. And since it only weighs 12.6 pounds, moving it around isn’t a problem.
A toggle on/off switch supplies power to the motor, putting it in stand-by mode without consuming energy. The blades will start and stop automatically as items are inserted and shred. This helps to save energy and prevent excessive wear and tear by not running the blades unnecessarily. The auto stop is also activated when the waste bin is full. If a jam occurs, simply slide the switch into reverse and the clogged items are fed back out the opening.
This device can shred not only paper but credit cards, CDs, DVDs, and floppy disks. The 5.2 inch opening can take up to 8 sheets or one piece of media at once. Items are processed as fast as 40 feet per minute. This is an excellent rate for a small, cross cut device. The remnants fall into an integrated one gallon bin. The entire container pulls out for easy disposal.
The cross cutting mechanism takes whole items and converts them into small pieces only 1/8″ by 1-1/8″ in size. These tiny bits earn a level three security rating. At this level, bank statements and other confidential documents will stay secure.
HSM provides a two year warranty on this machine for parts and labor. The cutting cylinders carry an impressive 20 year warranty.

Cons:

While it’s nice that this machine also shreds paper, it only does so through a very small opening. Even standard letter size documents will need to be cut or folded before entering the machine. If you’re using this as a supplemental device or only shred junk mail and the occasional full size sheet, this might not be a problem for you. But offices looking for a combination media and paper shredder might be more interested in the Shredstar X18.
This is designed to be a small, tabletop device and as such has lower capacities. If you try to share this machine with several people needing heavier shredding, it won’t stand up to the use. For a smaller, shared office shredder, we suggest the HSM 104.3.

Despite a few minor weaknesses, the HSM Shredstar Multishred is a handy multimedia shredder for any home or small office. Its ability to shred not only credit cards but CDs and floppy disks as well make it stand out among deskside devices. While a wider throat would be nice, it can accept folded papers. Or it could be used as a supplemental machine to an existing shredder. Either way, we think the Multishred is an excellent addition to any office.

There are generally two types of shredders that you will hear about and they are the strip cut and the crosscut or confetti shredders. Crosscut shredders provide better security by shredding the paper into smaller confetti-like strips vs. the strip cut models.

Now that you have decided which type of shredder you want, there are still more options to choose from. How much traffic will you be sending its way? Shredders are designed for several types of workload, be sure you pick the right one for your office. Will the workload be light or moderate or even heavy duty? Will there be many users of the shredder throughout the day?

What kinds of materials will you want to shred? Several shredders today offer shredding abilities beyond paper. You can find shredders that will shred CDs and DVDs, along with paperclips and staples.

You should also consider what kind of safety features and perk features are out there. Without a doubt, you should purchase an industrial shredder that has such safety features as stopping the shredder when a hand or finger is near the shredder opening. There are also such features as jam proof — yes now you can rest from the frustrations of a shredder jam by buying one of the latest, high tech, shredders out there.  Check out the Reuter’s article, “Revolutionary Paper Shredder Puts an End to Consumers’ Number One Complaint,” to learn about the technology.

You should also look at the size of the cut for security and also look at the wastebasket size.

Now you are armed with more information to pick out your next commercial document shredder.

The cross cut paper shredder is safer than a strip cut paper shredder because the output is more difficult to piece together. You are unlikely to be able to reconstruct fragments of confetti paper, which is what these shredders produce. You will also find that the paper compacts much better with these shredders than the output from a strip cut paper shredder. This means that you will not need to empty the paper bin so often.

You do not have to empty the waste in the ordinary way either, you can be creative and use it about the home, as bedding for the pet rabbit for example, or on the garden where it can be left to degrade as compost. So there are good reasons for buying a crosscut paper shredder.

These paper shredders are quite stylish looking, and not too bulky either. They can be kept in a smallish area when not being used. There are many manufacturers of cross cut paper shredders, each model having its own distinctive features. If you do not currently own a paper shredder and if you are looking round to buy one I would suggest buying a model which shreds not just paper, but other media such as credit cards, DVD’s and CD’s as well.

The Pros:

Perhaps the primary reasons for choosing the Dahle 20634EC cross-cut paper shredder is its security rating. This machine has a Level Six rating – the highest available – and has met the requirements for NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 approval. This means this shredder is perfect for the destruction of all sensitive documents, from credit card applications to top secret military and government files. The cutting mechanism of the 20634EC has the capability to turn a sheet of paper into over 15,000 particles (each particle measures 1 mm x 4.7 mm), so you can be assured that your documents can never be reassembled. This is a fully automated machine that starts up automatically, lets you know when to change the 16-gallon waste bag, and it also has an auto reverse feature to help prevent paper jams. For more automation, you can purchase the Dahle automatic oiler, which can take care of lubricating the machine for you, thus eliminating one step in paper shredder maintenance. All of these features can make the shredding process much smoother, as well as save you a lot of time. The automatic features of the 20634EC make it incredibly easy to use. The machine also has a user-friendly control panel that includes a button for continuous duty shredding. You can feed the 20634EC documents that are up to 10.75 inches wide, so this is a great machine to use if you shred documents that are a variety of different sizes. The 20634EC is made by Dahle, so you can be confident you’re getting a well-built machine that will work for a long time. The cutting mechanism is made of solid steel and rests on mounts made of rubber, providing super quiet operation, and the blades come with a one-year warranty.

The Cons:

The 20634EC can only shred up to 12 sheets of paper at once, so it’s not ideal for offices that need to do a lot of heavy-duty shredding on a daily basis. This paper shredder lacks casters. Dahle really should have added them considering the 20634EC weighs 130 pounds. Some people might experience some difficulty when moving the machine because of this. The 20634EC is just over 30 inches tall, so it can’t be stored underneath a desk. Using this shredder will be slightly less convenient than using a personal-sized shredder just because it’s a big too large to have it right at hand. Although the 20634EC offers the highest security rating possible, it is a shame that the shredder can’t destroy electronic media, such as floppy disks and CD-ROM’s. If you need to destroy those kinds of items, you’ll either need to choose a different paper shredder or purchase an additional one, such as the Dahle 30406 or 30414. (Just be aware that those machines have security ratings of Levels Two and Three, respectively.)

Finally, the Dahle 20634EC paper shredder retails for just under $4,500.00. This price may be too high for some businesses, especially if they need a machine with a higher shredding capacity and/or one that can handle multimedia shredding. But for offices that need a reliable, well-built shredder with a Level Six security rating, the Dahle 20634EC could be just the machine to get.

There are many personal shredders on the market today. But one to stop and take note of is the GBC Shredmaster GEX106 Jam Free Cross Cut Paper Shredder. Designed for light duty use in a small or home office, this machine offers powerful performance in a compact package. Automatic features and jam free technology provide simple, easy use. Here is a closer look at the strengths and weaknesses of the GEX106.

Strengths:

The petite dimensions of this device allow it to be tidily stored under a desk or table for easy access right when you need it. And since it only weighs about 25 pounds, moving it around shouldn’t be much of a hassle.
An automatic on and off mechanism allows you to use this machine one handed. Items are detected when inserted and activate the blades to begin shredding. Once everything is through, the device turns the blades off to avoid unnecessary wear and tear on the cutting shafts and motor.
Intuitive Jam Free technology senses when too much paper is in the feed. The throat will glow red to warn the user. Simply remove the excess and the machine will begin shredding again. If paper does get clogged in the blades, the automatic reverse function will feed the items back out to the user.
Up to ten stapled or paperclipped sheets can enter the nine inch wide paper entry. Items are shred as fast as 6.5 feet per minute. The blades can even destroy CDs and DVDs.
The cross cutting mechanism tears full size documents into tiny pieces virtually impossible to reassemble, providing a level three security rating. This keeps safe confidential materials with social security numbers, employee identities and strategic information.
Paper confetti drops into a six gallon waste bin. The container easily pulls out for simple removal and replacement of the shred bag.
GBC provides a two year limited warranty on this product. The cutters are covered by a 20 year limited warranty.

Weaknesses:

The shreds created only provide a level three security rating. For all-purpose office shredding, this keeps safe generic and confidential material. But businesses required to meet NSA guidelines for document destruction will need a higher security device, which GBC also makes.
As with many deskside shredders, this one is not rated for continuous run. After about four minutes of constant use, the thermal cut-off will kick in and power down your machine for a 30 minute cool down period. For light duty use, you may not ever run into this. Offices looking for a shared shredder between more than four users may prefer a device with a more powerful motor rather than be constantly idly waiting for the shredder to be ready.

Overall, the GBC Shredmaster GEX106 is an excellent personal shredder. The many automatic features offer ease of use and convenience. Cross cutting blades keep your confidential information safe and secure. And quality craftsmanship is guaranteed by a 20 year warranty. We think the GEX106 is a great choice for your next deskside shredder.

Dahle. Dahle is a German company that makes some of the best paper shredders currently available. The company has been around since the 1930′s and they also make some excellent office supplies such as rotary trimmers, scissors, and staplers. They also have a great selection of multimedia units, such as the 30414, a device that can shred paper, CD’s, DVD’s, and credit cards. Dahle’s American office is located in New Hampshire.
Fellowes. Fellowes is a well-known name in the office machine universe. The company was started in 1917 when one Henry Fellowes started producing Bankers Boxes which are still used for document storage even in the 21st century. Fellowes makes laminators and binding machines as well as top-quality shredders. Their products, such as the personal-sized, jam-proof PS-79Ci, can be found in homes and offices across North America.
Formax. This company is relatively new, having entered the office machine business in 1987. Formax has its headquarters in New Hampshire, but their products are manufactured in California. They manufacture a full line-up of both deskside and departmental shredders, as well as industrial devices for high-volume environments such as the FD8802SC strip-cut device.
GBC. General Binding Corporation (GBC) has been around for more than half a century and is world-famous thanks to its production of excellent comb binding machines. The company also makes the excellent ShredMaster shredders that are ideal for use both at home and at work. Whether you need a device that can only shred a handful of sheets or an entire ream, there’s a ShredMaster device that’s up to the task.
HSM. The shredders HSM produces are made to exact standards in Germany, which sets them apart from the competition. These products are very durable and are great for both large and small jobs. HSM makes a desktop multimedia shredder, the Shredstar, a device that makes it a snap to destroy floppy disks and other electronic media. They also offer a full line-up of high-security and industrial units.
Intimus and Martin Yale. Martin Yale is another office supply industry giant and it makes products under both the Intimus and Martin Yale brands. This company has been around since 1940, meaning it’s been in business for a whopping 70 years. Intimus devices are some of the best heavy-duty products money can buy and they’re perfect for busy offices that need a lot of document security.
MBM. This is another company that’s been around for years. The MBM Corporation was founded in 1936 and an offshoot of the German company IDEAL Krug and Priester. MBM also has a Canadian division call IDEAL.MBM. This company makes products that offer both a lot of document security and safety features, including ones that can be used by both small offices and large corporations.