No need to be confused by terminology or jargon. Find out the meanings of terms and descriptions by clicking on a link below to read a full description or explanation in our glossary.

Auto Start
Auto Stop
Auto-Reverse
Bin Capacity
Cross Cut
Daily Usage
DIN Level
Duty Cycle
Noise Level
Reverse
Sheet Capacity
Shred Speed
Shredder Bag
Shredder Oil
Strip Cut
Thermal Overload Protection
Throat Width
 

The shredder automatically starts up when a sheet of paper is fed into the machine. There are two ways this is done. Mechanical auto-starting is done by a micro switch which is triggered by contact with the paper. It is used on machines of all sizes. Electronic auto-starting is done by the paper passing through a beam of light. This method is more common on the larger, more expensive machines. Micro switches can become clogged or jammed with paper waste, especially if the machine is not emptied regularly and waste builds up. Machines with electronic systems often have other sensors that detect the level of waste in the bin, preventing the machine operating if they need to be emptied.

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Shredding is stopped automatically, even if there are part-shredded sheets in the machine. This usually happens because the number of sheets being fed in is more than the machine can cope with and is done to protect the mechanism. However, some models are now being fitted with sensors that can detect if the operator's fingers are getting too close to the cutters and the machine is then automatically halted for safety reasons.

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A feature found mainly on larger, commercial machines. If excess material is fed into the machine which might cause cutter damage or just cause it to jam, a detector automatically throws the machine into reverse to clear the excess.

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The volume of shred waste that a shredder can hold before being emptied. This is important if you intend to do a lot of shredding. And don't forget that Cross Cut machines shred down to smaller volumes than Strip Cut ones, so for a shredder with a bin of a certain capacity, the Cross Cut version will need emptying less often than the Strip Cut.

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When paper is shredded, the size of the shreds can be made to vary in width and length. The smaller the size of the shreds, the more secure the shredder. Shred width can be reduced by placing the cutter heads closer together but shred length can only be reduced by using Cross Cut design cutter heads. Reducing either dimension makes the cutting heads work harder so the more secure shredders need more powerful motors, or work more slowly or shred fewer sheets per pass than their Strip Cut counterparts (see Strip Cut, below).

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The average number of sheets and/or shredding passes that the shredder will be expected to process each day. This is an important consideration when considering a purchase, as a machine that is subjected to a constant workload above its design limit will be subject to breakdown and premature failure. In the long run it pays to buy a machine that can handle more work than you know you will initially generate, as volumes tend to increase with time.

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Refers to the security level of a shredder according to DIN 32757, the official European standard. There are 5 DIN levels (1 - 5) in order of increasing security, reflecting the importance and/or sensitivity of the material being shredded. See the separate section on Shredder Security Levels.

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The recommended time a shredder can be used (at capacity) before the Thermal Overload Protection cuts in and stops the motor. Some heavy-duty shredders, however, are rated for continuous use and this is something that needs to be considered before going ahead with an intended purchase. See Thermal Overload Protection, below.

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The amount of noise produced by the shredder (in decibels) whilst in use at full sheet capacity. Not all shredders are equal when it comes to noise level. Some small shredders are much noisier in use than many larger ones, mainly because their casings are much flimsier. However, this need not be a problem if they are only subject to occasional use by an individual. Office shredders that are located in a shared workspace have to be much quieter in operation than high volume, heavy duty models that are located away where nobody is disturbed by their noise.

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Essential for freeing jams and/or the removal of excess material from the shredder cutters. Small and many larger shredders have to be put into reverse manually. Some larger machines, especially those intended for commercial use, engage reverse automatically in order to protect the expensive cutter heads.

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The number of sheets that can be fed into a shredder in a single pass. The figure is usually calculated using normal 70gsm A4 paper. Remember that if wide paper is folded to get it into the shredder, this effectively doubles the number of sheets entering the cutter heads. See Throat Width below.

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Personal shredders and many of the smaller office machines just have plastic bins to hold the shred waste which have to be emptied from time to time. Larger office machines and all of the high throughput shredders have internal carriers for removable plastic bags into which the shred waste falls. Some carriers even have wheels for easy access and removal of the bag. Internal bags are convenient and also help keep the area around the shredder clean and tidy by containing the shreds and the paper dust which shredding also produces. However, users need to remember to keep a supply of bags in stock and also make sure they obtain the correct bags of the right size and capacity for their machine.

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Small shredders do not need much in the way of lubrication but larger, harder-working machines definitely do in order to maximise cutter life. Shredder oil can be applied in two ways - either some can be placed on a sheet of paper, another sheet placed on top and the 'sandwich' passed through the machine (and repeated if necessary to ensure the whole cutter length is treated) or a small amount can be sprayed directly onto the cutters through the shredder mouth. We recommend that only oil specifically intended for shredder use is used.

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When paper is shredded, the size of the shreds can be made to vary in width and length. The smaller the size of the shreds, the more secure the shredder. In Strip Cut shredders (also sometimes referred to as Straight or Ribbon Cut), only the width of the shred is varied - the strips can be as long as the document being shredded if the pages are fed in completely squarely. Shred width is reduced by placing the cutter heads closer together. This in turn makes the cutting heads work harder, so Strip Cut shredders with smaller width shreds work a bit more slowly or shred slightly fewer sheets per pass. Strip Cut shredders cost less and work faster than their Cross Cut counterparts (see Cross Cut, above).

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Shredders which are subjected to continuous, heavy work can become quite hot very quickly. Unless the machine has been specifically designed to operate in such a way, the motor can be severely damaged if it is not stopped before it overheats. Sensors are therefore built in to detect overheating and stop the machine automatically before any damage occurs.  The shredder will then enter a cooling down, or off-cycle period, which is normal. This prevents damage from overheating, lengthens motor life and avoids costly repair bills. See Duty Cycle, above.

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The width of the opening through which paper is fed into the shredder. It is usually a false economy to purchase a machine with a throat width that is narrower than the material which is usually shredded (eg wide computer printout) as otherwise the material is folded, reducing the effective shred speed and subjecting the cutter heads to unnecessary extra work. Note - some office machines shred other items besides paper, such as old CDs and credit cards. Shredders which are designed for this purpose often have a separate entry through which such items are fed. Some large machines also have tables or hoppers which feed the waste material into the moth of the shredder.

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