10 Types of Paper Shredders to Choose From

What are the different types of paper shredders? There are multiple variants of paper shredder machines to choose from, and the most important aspect to look out for are the different security levels of the shredder. These security levels are divided into strip-cut, cross-cut, and micro-cut paper shredders, and the cut-type informs you how small or how big a shredded particle is.

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Besides the DIN 66399 security levels, there are different features to choose between. Such as auto-feed shredders that can shed your paper automatically or shredders that can also shred CDs and credit cards besides your confidential papers.

Types of shredders:

 

1. Strip-cut paper shredders

A strip-cut shredder is also known as a ribbon-cut, spaghetti-cut, or straight-cut shredder. The shredder contains a single blade to cut paper documents vertically.

Strip-cut shredders are getting rated as DIN P-1 or P-2, according to the official DIN 66399 standard. This rating indicates that these shredders offer the least amount of data protection.

A strip-cut shredder shreds your documents into long vertical stripes rather than short shreds. On average, a standard document is being shredded into 39 strips.

 

These strips might still contain readable parts of text and visuals, graphics, signatures, or photos. These shredder particles are called ‘landscaping.’ Therefore, the shredding machines are perfect for shredding non-confidential documents, like junk mail. Strip-cut shredders can be used for personal use but also commercial use.

Strip-cut shredders are fast shredders and require the least amount of maintenance. The downside is that these shredders are not recommended for shredding confidential documents.

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2. Cross-cut paper shredders

A cross-cut shredder is known as a confetti-cut shredder. These shredding machines cut your documents diagonally from both directions, which results in small paper particles. Because of the cross-cut technology, these shredders offer far more security than a strip-cut shredder. A standard document is generally getting shredded into approximately 400 particles.

Cross-cut shredders provide you enough security for shredding common confidential documents at home or in the office. Therefore cross-cut shredders are the most popular type of shredders in the world.

 

This type of shredder offers ‘medium security’ and sits under security level P-3 and/or P-4, according to the official DIN 66399 standard for paper destruction and other media.

A cross-cut shredder requires more regular maintenance than a strip-cut shredder. To keep your cross-cut paper shredder running smoothly, it is recommended to oil the shredder regularly. Please be aware that a P-4 shredder can also be categorized as a micro-cut shredder in the US.

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3. Micro-cut paper shredders

Micro-cut paper shredders offer more security than a cross-cut shredder and far more than a strip-cut shredder. Although a micro-cut shredder is a cross-cut shredding machine, it is a more advanced shredder that offers high security for destroying highly confidential data.

Officially a micro-cut shredder is classified as a P-5, P-6, or P-7 shredder, in accordance with DIN 66399. DIN P-7 offers the highest level of information security and is recommended for shredding extremely confidential documents, for example, documents from the government.

 

The paper particles from micro-cut shredders are very small; therefore, you can’t even read a single letter on it. One A4 document ends up in more than 2,000 tiny particles when it is shredded with a P-5 paper shredder.

A micro-cut shredder offers the most maintenance, so regular oiling of the machine is recommended. Also, be aware that micro-cut shredders shred documents at a slower pace in comparison with a cross-cut or strip-cut shredder. This is due to the lower sheet capacity and slower shredding speed.

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4. Auto-feed paper shredders

With an auto-feed paper shredder, you can shred high volumes of documents fully automatically. This means that you don’t spend or waste time shredding paper. You load the shredding machine with documents and walk away. The shredder does the shredding for you.

Automatic paper shredders are regularly used in the office. The financial department is an example of a place in the office where an automatic shredder can be helpful. The shredder starts shredding documents at a continuous pace while you and your colleagues can continue working.

 

Auto-feed shredders are built for shredding high quantities of documents. Generally, auto shredders can shred around 100 sheets, while other more expensive auto-feed shredders can destroy 500+ sheets per session. You can also shred documents manually with most automatic shredders. You can use a dedicated slot for feeding documents to shred.

It might be a security risk to leave an automatic shredder unattended when loaded with confidential documents. Therefore it is recommended to opt for a shredder that features a lockable tray for extra security. These secure shredders can be locked with a pin-code for extra security.

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5. Paper shredders for CDs, DVDs, and credit cards

Some paper shredder offers an extra feature to shred CDs, DVDs, or credit cards besides your paper documents. These ‘CD paper shredders’ are regularly equipped with a dedicated slot for feeding CDs that you want to shred and destroy into small particles.

And some of these shredders even come with a separate compartment for the shredded plastic particles. This helps to keep your shredded CDs from your shredded paper, which is better for the environment.

 

Generally, CD shredders can also shred credit cards or other plastic cards. But it isn’t a fixed rule that any paper shredder that shreds credit cards can also shred CDs if that makes sense.

Be aware that this type of shredder can only shred one CD or DVD per pass. This means you can’t shred a whole stack of CDs at once, but only one at a time.

6. Continuous duty paper shredders

One of the most overseen aspects of a paper shredder is its run-time. The run-time indicates how long a shredder can operate before the motor needs to cool down.

Average shredders for home use can only shred for a few minutes, while standard office shredders can shred for around 15-30 minutes. But for high-volume or centralized paper shredding, it is required that the shredder has a high run-time.

This shredder type is called a heavy-duty shredder, continuous shredder, centralized shredder, or departmental shredder.

 

Continuous shredders can shred high volumes of documents at once, without the shredder needs to take a ‘cool-down break.’ Therefore these shredders are perfect to use in larger offices and for centralized shredding.

Besides the extended run-time, these heavy-duty shredding machines also come with large wastebaskets. These high volume compartments can hold much-shredded paper, so you can shred documents all day long without emptying the bin all the time.

Look out for a heavy-duty shredder with an automatic oiling system. This system helps to keep your ‘centralized’ shredder run smoothly.

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7. Industrial paper shredders

An industrial paper shredder is a professional and powerful shredding machine for high volume shredding. It is a more advanced shredder in comparison to continuous duty shredders.

Industrial shredders are used, like the name indicates, in large (industrial) environments where bulk shredding of documents is needed.

Some businesses or government agencies prefer to shred their documents because of their security policies or protocols. Therefore they have invested in an industrial shredder on which they can rely 24/7.

The shredder is capable of shredding high volumes of documents per pass. A standard shredder can only shred around ten sheets per pass. An industrial shredder can shred and destroy a complete file full of papers.

 

There are two types of industrial shredders.

The first type is fairly compact and contains a small table with a conveyor belt to feed the shredder’s documents. Optionally you can attach a compact baler machine to the shredder.

These ‘shredder baler combinations’ are complete and compact disposal stations for shredding and compressing the shredded paper into bales.

Some of these compact shredders are also used in ‘shred trucks.’ Companies can hire a paper shredding service company to shred documents on-site. A special security truck, with a built-in shredder, drives to the desired location where the documents are shredded immediately into a shredder installed inside the truck.

The second type of industrial shredder is a multilevel shredder system. Professional data destruction companies use these large and fully automatic shredding systems for off-site paper shredding.

The shredder machines can shred extreme volumes of documents with very high throughput rates in several shredding stages.

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8. Paper shredders with wastebasket

Most shredders come with a wastebasket to capture the shredded particles or strips after shredding a document. There are a few variants of these paper shredders.

• Lift-off head – This is a basic shredder where the shredder part sits on top of the bin. To get access to the bin, you need to lift-off the head. The downside of a lift-off head shredder is that paper shreds left behind in the blades can fall on the floor when you lift-off the head. Secondly, these shredders are top-heavy, and therefore there is a higher risk that the shredder might tip over.
• Pull-out wastebasket – A more convenient variant is the shredder with a pull-out wastebasket. These shredders come with a separate waste bin that you can pull-out of the shredder when you want to empty it. We recommend using shredder bags inside the bin, which makes emptying easier.
• Separate container – Larger paper shredders, such as auto-feed shredders or heavy-duty shredders, can come with a separate container that sits inside the shredder and directly under the cutting blades. This high capacity container can be a plastic wastebasket, but some shredders come with a cardboard box. To get access to the container, you need to open a door first, so this is not a pull-out mechanism.

9. Paper shredders without wastebasket

A shredder without a wastebasket is budget-friendly, compact, and easy to store in a cupboard or desk drawer. These ‘head only’ shredder only contains the top part of the shredder that includes the motor, this means that it doesn’t contain a compartment or basket for the shredded paper particles.

Therefore you need to place the shredder on top of a container, such as a trash can, before shredding. Most of these shredders are equipped with an extendable arm to make sure the top part fits most wastebasket.

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Please be aware that this type of shredder is only recommended for incidental shredding and cannot shredding higher volumes. Most of these shredders are only categorized as strip-cut and thus not advised for shredding confidential documents.

Lastly, these shredders without baskets are the least safe shredders to use.

10. Manual paper shredders

The most minimal type of shredder is a manual shredder, also known as a ‘hand shredder,’ ‘hand crank shredder’ or ‘hand-powered shredder.’ This portable and compact shredder fit easily in your drawer, on a shelf, or on your desk.

Because these shredders work manually, there is no need for electricity to power the shredder so that you can shred anywhere. You turn a knob or handle to shred a document with the hand shredder.

Manual paper shredders can be strip-cut or even cross-cut. We recommend opting for a cross-cut hand shredder that comes with a wastebasket for collecting the shredded particles. There are also manual shredders available that can shred credit cards or other plastic cards for you.

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In 2017, it was found that the U.S. produced 267.8 million tons of waste. This includes both residential and commercial items being thrown away.

Out of this total, approximately 35 percent of the waste was recycled or composted, leaving only 139 million tons to find its way to a landfill.

Waste in general can have a negative impact on the environment, but industrial waste specifically is incredibly hazardous.

That’s why many businesses and industries are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact by recycling what they can. Shredding machines can help with the process.

Read on for some tips on how to find the machine that will get your shredding jobs done right.

Know What Shredding Machines You Need

The first thing in getting your shredding jobs done right is to know what type of industrial shredder you need.

There are many different ways to shred material. Here are a few:

• Grinders – The most thorough way to shred materials is to put it through a shredder. Whatever you put into this shredder comes out the other end as dust.
• Strip-cut – These shredders cut the material into even, rectangular sheets.
• Cross-cut – This type of shredder will cut the material twice. It generally starts with a strip cut and then finishes with a horizontal cut. Depending on the type of blades the shredder has, the resulting particles will be square- or diamond-shaped.
• Particle-cut – This shredder cuts in pretty much the same way as a cross-cut shredder, but the shape of the resulting particles will be even more specific.

Other ways to shred include micro- and crypto-cuts.

An industrial shredder has the ability to cut just about any material you put into it. However, when it comes to finding the right one, you need to consider what your specific needs are.

For example, if you are a financial institution trying to get rid of sensitive account information, then getting an industrial paper shredder that does particle cuts or grinds will keep this information from falling into the wrong hands.

If you don’t need to make sensitive information difficult to read, then choosing the right shredder will depend on different factors.

What Are You Shredding?

When it comes to finding the right shredder machine for your business, you need to consider the type of material you will be shredding.

If your business primarily takes care of metal, then buying a metal shredder will work the best.

Should you have a lot of plastic that you are trying to recycle or reduce before throwing out, then a plastic shredder is going to be your best option.

In addition to thinking of your current shredding needs, you might also consider where your business will be going in the future.

You might mainly shred paper right now, but if there’s the possibility of shredding plastic or metal in the future, buying an industrial shredder that can handle all these materials is in your best interest.

How Does the Material Need to be Cut?

The four types of cuts that shredders can make were listed above. Knowing which one is best for your business will depend on what you are doing with the shredded material.

If you are preparing metal or plastic for recycling, then using a strip shredder may be all that you need.

Should you be planning on composting your materials, then making them as small as possible is beneficial. That’s when a grinder can come in handy.

What Contaminants Will be in the Shredded Material?

No matter how careful you are, the material that you shred will get contaminated in some way.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it will have an impact on the type of shredder you get for your business.

You might think you are only going to use your shredder for wood materials, especially waste that comes from construction sites. However, it’s possible that nails or screws might still be in the wood.

Unless you plan on removing every single one of these before placing the wood into the shredder, you might consider getting a machine that can handle small bits of metal.

How Much Material Do You Need to Shred?

If you have a lot of material that needs to be shredded on a daily basis, then you need to make sure that your shredder can handle the job.

This might include getting a larger machine that is more durable and has heavy-duty blades.

Should you find that you only need to shred once in a while, then you don’t want to spend more than necessary.

Shredders come in a wide range of sizes and capabilities, so it’s possible to find one that will fit all of your business needs.

Benefits of Using a Shredder

One of the biggest advantages to adding a shredder to your business is that it can help reduce the amount of waste that finds its way into landfills.

If you are looking for a way to recycle or repurpose some of your waste, then you need a shredder.

Shredders allow you to break down large items into smaller items. This makes the pieces easier to recycle and repurpose.

Some of the most commonly shredded items include food waste, tires, plastics, wood, paper, pallets, steel drums, and electronic components.

The shredded material can then be turned into a variety of different items, including compost, mulch, and plastic bags.

In some cases, recycled tires and wood are also added to public playgrounds to make the area softer and more inviting to kids.

No matter what, the material isn’t being tossed into a landfill where it can cause damage to the soil and water sources.

5 Factors to Consider

Industrial manufacturers and consumers dispose of countless items faster than waste management professionals can process them.

An industrial shredder is not a small purchase, so you must be sure you're getting the right machine for your unique needs. Take a look at our five tips on choosing your next industrial shredder.

1. Input Material

The input material is the first thing you need to consider when choosing an industrial shredder for your business. Looking at shredders that don't process your input material is a waste of valuable time and resources.

With that in mind, at Franklin Miller, we provide customers with machines that can shred the following materials:

• Bulk waste
• Cannabis waste
• Electronic waste
• Fish
• Food waste
• Hemp
• Medical Waste
• Metal
• Paper
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Shipboard
• Steel drums
• Textiles and clothing
• Tires
• Wipes
• Wood pallets

If you're disposing of something wet or stringy, putting it through a shredder not optimized for that type of material could clog or break the machine. Even if you're disposing of something simpler, such as wood, be sure that the shredder you opt for is capable of breaking it down properly.

Just like with shopping for a pair of shoes or a new home, don't just settle on the first one you find. Do your research to find out the best industrial shredder for what you want to process now and might want to in the near future. At Franklin Miller, we even offer testing in our facility to guarantee the unit you choose is a good fit for shredding your specific material.

You shouldn’t have to buy an individual machine for each material you shred. See which units are compatible with several different types of waste. Also, consider the size of the input material when choosing a shredder for your business. Large pieces in small machines often cause clogs.

Even if they do make it to the output bin, the material may not be fully shredded. Additionally, small pieces processed by large blades won't result in uniform pieces, or might not shred at all. That all being said, our TASKMASTER® units can reduce a wide variety of bulk solids up to 80%.

2. Capacity & Size

Other questions you need to ask about the input material are the size of the material and how much you intend to shred at a time. It's important not to overload a shredder for best performance but also for safety, as an overloaded machine could malfunction.

While you technically can put a small amount of material in a large shredder, there is such a thing as too small of a load, so make sure you are considerate of that.

If you plan on shredding multiple load sizes, ensure the shredder is adjustable to handle that capacity. If that's not something you can find, you might consider trying to cut down the size of larger loads and get a medium-sized shredder that handles both.

If you feel you have unusual requirements, you should talk to the manufacturer to make sure the machine you buy suits your needs.

3. Reuse What You Can

Businesses often purchase industrial shredders to dispose of non-hazardous waste and materials that can be repurposed, but the wrong shredder can destroy those plans.

If you plan on reusing shredded waste material, figure out what specifications you need the output to meet to have value. Buying a shredder will help guarantee uniform output size.

If you hope to shred multiple materials with one machine and want to reuse one or more of them, make sure you can do so without contaminating the product.

4. Where to Store Your Industrial Shredder

Most prospective shredder buyers have a plan for storing their shredder. Unless you're getting a small industrial shredder, you need a good amount of space where the machine will sit, as these are not like the paper shredders you keep at home.

Dimensions aren't the only factor you need to consider. Your storage space's climate and other conditions should factor into your choice of a shredder.

If you have a climate-controlled, dry indoor space for storage, you're primed to store most shredders, though you should still check any model's storage specifications.

If you have nothing but outdoor space or have unusual indoor conditions like a freezer or wet production floor, be sure the shredder can safely handle that environment.

5. Maintenance Protocols

All equipment needs regular care, and shredders are no exception.Industrial shredder systems need periodic lubrication and oil changes to maintain optimal performance and output material. In addition, grinding blades can wear down over time if not maintained.

Some shredders are easier for owners to service themselves than others. Find out where the access panel is and if it's feasible for you to service the machine yourself, or if you need to bring in outside professionals.

Another aspect of maintenance to consider is determining what kind of service the vendor provides. Having the vendor's help, or a team of shredding experts at your disposal, keeps your machine in top condition.

Finding the Right Shredder

Once you know exactly what your business is going to be shredding and how you want the material cut, you can then start your search for a supplier of shredding machines.

You won’t have to look far… At Franklin Miller, we have been a leader in size reduction technology for three generations.

We have shredders that can handle any job and material. Our machines are built to exceed all of your expectations.

Whether you are looking to shred your materials so they can be recycled or repurposed or just to reduce the amount of waste you produce, we have the shredders you’re looking for.

Get in touch with us today!

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