| We are living in a world of paper: we receive | | | | |
| important information on paper, and share | | | | Each level depends on cut types a shredder |
| confidential information on paper: creating | | | | uses: strip cut or cross cut. |
| documents, letters and many sensitive issues. | | | | |
| Therefore it's important to be sure that our | | | | Cross cut shredder cuts paper into |
| confidentiality and privacy are protected, | | | | confetti-like pieces providing higher |
| and that waste paper is disposed of. In the | | | | security and significantly reducing bulk |
| past people used ways of destroying paper | | | | waste. |
| like burning and tearing, etc. Nowadays with | | | | |
| huge volumes of paper all these methods are | | | | Strip cut shredder cuts paper into |
| useless and we need something really powerful | | | | spaghetti-like pieces the length of the paper |
| and reliable. | | | | providing everyday security. |
| | | | |
| The first idea of a bulk paper shredding | | | | - 1 Level is used for general paperwork and |
| machine was patented in 1908 by A.A. Low, and | | | | provides strip cut (10.5mm) and cross cut |
| the first shredder was created in Germany in | | | | (10.5x40-80mm) |
| 1935 by Adolf Ehinger. Since then with the | | | | |
| fast growth of business and industry, | | | | - 2 Level is to be used for everyday |
| shredders have become an important item of | | | | documents with strip cut (3.9mm). |
| office equipment, for both company and home | | | | |
| needs. | | | | - 3 Level is used for confidential documents |
| | | | with cross cut (3.9x30mm) |
| Nowadays each company creates, edits, and | | | | |
| destroys tons of paper documents that may | | | | - 4 Level is intended for sensitive documents |
| contain highly confidential information that | | | | and uses cross cut (1.9x15mm) |
| is not intended for third-party viewing and | | | | |
| usage. And the best way for the company to | | | | - 5 Level provides the highest security and |
| protect itself is to shred all documents and | | | | is used for secret documents with cross cut |
| other important papers before throwing them | | | | (0.78x11mm) |
| away. | | | | |
| | | | What to shred? |
| This guide will help you choose the right | | | | |
| shredder for your company needs. | | | | Each company is legally required to |
| | | | adequately dispose sensitive information. |
| Before you go to the nearest office equipment | | | | Accounting and Personnel departments produce |
| store or logon to an online office supplies | | | | highly sensitive information that is |
| shop, you need to know answers to these 2 | | | | extremely useful to competitors. The |
| questions: | | | | following documents should always be shredded |
| | | | before disposal: |
| 1. How often will the shredder be used? | | | | |
| | | | - Financial reports |
| The environment in which the shredder will be | | | | |
| placed is usually the best guide to how much | | | | - Marketing reports |
| shredding a machine will have to undertake | | | | |
| and if it is the right type of machine to | | | | - Sales reports |
| best meet your needs. | | | | |
| | | | - Budget information |
| Home Personal shredders are the best for | | | | |
| single users who works from home. Such | | | | - Salary information |
| machines can utilize about 20 sheets per day | | | | |
| and work in an economical way for home | | | | - Personal data |
| workers to shred confidential business and | | | | |
| personal information. | | | | - Internal correspondence |
| | | | |
| Medium duty use (not continuous) machines | | | | There is a wide range of shredders that can |
| usually utilize 50-100 sheets a day. This is | | | | shred A4 landscape, A3 and even CDs, and that |
| normal for shared use in an office with 3 and | | | | feed automatically. The maximum width of |
| more users. | | | | paper, which can be shredded by each machine, |
| | | | is listed in the specifications table for |
| Heavy-duty use machines are designed for | | | | individual models. |
| large companies to withstand everyday | | | | |
| continuous use and can work as centralised | | | | Number of paper sheets that be shredded at |
| machines for all office users. | | | | one time varies depending on the model. A |
| | | | standard office shredder can shred from 15 to |
| 2. How confidential is the information to be | | | | 20 sheets at one time. A strip cut machine |
| shredded? | | | | shreds more sheets of paper in one time than |
| | | | cross cut machines, which provide higher |
| The security provided by the shredder is | | | | level of security shredding fewer sheets. |
| determined by how small the paper is | | | | |
| shredded. Levels of security rated by a DIN | | | | Shredders maintenance |
| Security Level are ranging from 1 to 5. DIN | | | | |
| stands for "Deutsche Industrie Normierung" | | | | Shredders usually require very little |
| which means "German Industry Standard" and it | | | | maintenance. The basics maintenance can be |
| is a registered association promoting | | | | easily done inside the company without |
| standardization, quality assurance, safety, | | | | calling in a specialist: this is periodical |
| and environmental protection internationally. | | | | clearance of the cutting heads of excess |
| | | | shredded paper and regular oiling of the |
| The DIN level of each shredder model can be | | | | shredder to ensure the proper movement of the |
| found in the machine specs. | | | | cutting heads. These are 2 crucial steps |
| | | | towards efficient and long lasting operation |
| The official levels range from 1 to 5 with 1 | | | | of the shredder. The shredders usually have a |
| being the least secure and 5 being the most | | | | 2-years warranty with a 5-years warranty of |
| secure. Level 3 is an average one and usually | | | | the cutting heads. |
| enough for most requirements. | | | | |