Kobra Shredders: Complete US Buyer's Guide
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Kobra shredders are made in Italy by Elcoman srl and are built around continuous-duty motors, meaning the published sheet capacity is a rate the machine can sustain rather than a figure it can hit for a few minutes before cooling down. The range runs from deskside units through to the 8 HP Cyclone industrial shredder, with HS and HS-6 variants covering DIN 66399 levels P-6 and P-7 for classified and high-sensitivity material.
This guide covers how the Kobra range is structured, the verified specifications that actually differentiate the models, where the brand is weaker than its rivals, and which machine fits which job. Every figure below comes from Elcoman's own published technical data.
Who makes Kobra shredders?
Kobra is the shredding brand of Elcoman srl, based at Via Gorizia 9, 20813 Bovisio Masciago (MB), Italy. The machines are designed and built in Italy, which matters for two practical reasons. First, spare parts and cutting cylinders come through a single European supply chain rather than being sourced from multiple contract manufacturers. Second, the electrical specification for the US market is built to order — the 115 V / 60 Hz single-phase models and the 208 V three-phase industrial models are distinct product codes, not adapters fitted to a European base machine.
For US buyers this has one immediate consequence: check the voltage line on the quotation. The 208 V three-phase machines in the industrial line need a dedicated circuit and, in the Cyclone's case, 50 amps per phase. That is a facilities decision as much as a purchasing one.
How the Kobra range is organised
Elcoman splits the catalogue into lines rather than a single numbered sequence. Understanding the lines is the fastest way to narrow a shortlist.
Classic Line
The volume core of the range: the +1, +2 and +3 deskside machines, the 240, 260, 300 and 400 series office and departmental shredders, and the AF autofeed models. Model suffixes tell you the cut. S or SS is straight (strip) cut, C or CC is cross cut, HS is high security, and AO means an integrated automatic oiler. The trailing digit broadly tracks the security level — a C4 is P-4, a C2 is P-5, an S5 is P-2.
That numbering trips people up constantly. A "C2" is not level 2; it is the finer of the two cross cuts and lands at P-5. Read the DIN level on the specification sheet, never the model suffix.
Touch Screen Line
The 260 TS, 270 TS, 310 TS and 430 TS. Mechanically these are the same cutting technology as the Classic Line, with a touch display that reports bin fill, oiling status and jam state. The practical argument for them is not the screen — it is that they surface maintenance prompts in a shared-departmental setting where no single person owns the machine.
Industrial Line
The 430 TS conveyor-fed machines, the Cyclone and Cyclone 006, the Compactor C-500 and the Flexpack. These are three-phase, floor-standing machines measured in pounds per hour rather than sheets per pass. Browse the range in high capacity and industrial paper shredders.
High Security
Kobra's high-security models come in two grades. HS models cut 1/32 x 7/16 in and are rated P-6. HS-6 models cut 0.8 x 5 mm and are rated P-7. Elcoman lists HS-6 variants of the 240, 260, 260.1, 300, 300.1, 300.2 and 400. See the full selection in high security shredders.
Electronic media and cardboard
The HDD and SSD shredders handle drives rather than paper, and the 240 SC destroys smart cards. Separately, the Flexpack is not a shredder at all in the destruction sense — it cuts and perforates used cardboard boxes into packing material. Both categories are covered in digital media shredders and cardboard box shredders.
Verified Kobra specifications
All figures below are Elcoman's published data for the US market.
| Model | DIN level | Throat width | Sheet capacity | Motor | Bin | Speed | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kobra 260 TS C4 AO | P-4 | 10.25 in | 24 | — | 22 gal | — | — |
| Kobra 270 TS C4 AO | P-4 | 12.2 in | 26 | — | 29 gal | — | — |
| Kobra 310 TS SS5 | P-2 | 13 in | 47 | 1.5 HP (two motors) | 40 gal | 20 ft/min | 120 lb |
| Kobra 400 C4 AO | P-4 | 16 in | 48 | 2.9 HP | 53 gal | 30 ft/min | 209 lb |
| Kobra 400 HS-6 AO | P-7 | 16 in | 14 | 2.9 HP | 53 gal | 30 ft/min | 246 lb |
| Kobra 430 TS C4 AO | P-3 | 17.2 in + conveyor | 130 | 5.4 HP | 124 gal | 50 ft/min | 1,060 lb |
| Kobra Cyclone | P-2 to P-5* | 13 x 19 in | 500 at a time | 8 HP | 100 gal | — | 970 lb |
| Kobra Cyclone 006 | P-5/P-6 to P-7* | 13 x 19 in | 500 at a time | 8 HP | 100 gal | — | 970 lb |
*Cyclone security level is variable depending on the screen fitted. Elcoman does not publish the individual screen apertures, so the required level must be specified at the time of order. Dashes indicate figures Elcoman does not publish for that model.
Note the shape of that table. Going from P-4 to P-7 on the same 400 chassis, with the same 2.9 HP motor and the same 16 in throat, drops sheet capacity from 48 to 14 — roughly a 70% reduction. That is the real cost of high security, and it is a throughput cost, not a purchase-price cost.
What actually distinguishes Kobra
Continuous-duty motors
Elcoman publishes explicit continuous-duty statements on several models. The 430 TS C4 AO is described as a "24 hours continuous duty motor: no duty cycle or timed cool down period". The 400 C4 AO carries a 24-hour continuous duty rating with thermal protection. The 310 TS SS5 uses two 24-hour continuous duty motors.
This is the single most commercially significant thing about the brand. Many office-grade shredders are specified with a duty cycle — thirty minutes on, thirty minutes off, for example — and the published sheet capacity applies only within that window. A continuous-duty machine sustains its rate through a full shift. If your team runs a purge day, or a records clerk works a queue for four hours, that distinction determines whether the job finishes.
Integrated automatic oiling
Cross-cut and high-security cutting cylinders need lubrication, and skipped oiling is the most common cause of premature cylinder wear in shared-office machines. Kobra's AO models oil the knives during the shredding operation rather than relying on someone remembering to apply oil to a sheet. On a departmental machine used by twenty people, an integrated oiler is worth more than most feature-list items.
Metal-tolerant cutting cylinders
Elcoman specifies carbon-hardened steel cutting knives on the 430 TS designed to handle staples and metal clips. In practice this removes the pre-sorting step, which is usually the slowest part of a bulk destruction job.
Where Kobra is weaker
Two honest caveats.
The published data is thinner than HSM's. Elcoman does not publish duty-cycle statements for the Cyclone, does not publish Cyclone throughput speed in ft/min, and does not publish the screen apertures that determine the Cyclone's security level. HSM publishes fuller technical tables. If your procurement process requires a complete specification sheet before approval, expect to request data from the distributor rather than download it.
US-market dealer density is lower. Kobra is a smaller presence in North America than HSM or Fellowes. That is not a reflection on the machines, but it does mean service coverage varies more by region. Confirm on-site service availability for your ZIP code before committing to a floor-standing industrial machine, because a 970 lb Cyclone is not something you ship back.
Which Kobra suits which use case
- Deskside, one user, occasional confidential material — the +1 and +2 range. The +1 SS7 and +2 SS7 exist for users who want a fine cut at a personal scale.
- Small team, moderate daily volume — the 240 and 260 series. Choose C4 for P-4 general confidential work, C2 for P-5 where you handle personal data.
- Shared departmental machine, several users, all day — the 270 TS or 310 TS. The touch display earns its keep when no one person owns maintenance.
- Central shred station or records room — the 400 series. A 16 in throat and 53 gallon bin cut the number of interruptions per hour, which is the actual bottleneck at this scale.
- Classified or top-tier sensitive material — HS-6 models at P-7 (0.8 x 5 mm). Verify current listing status first; see the FAQ below.
- Bulk destruction, service bureau, or a records centre clear-out — the 430 TS with its conveyor, or the Cyclone. Both are three-phase machines that need facilities planning.
- Recycling and packaging operations — the Flexpack, which converts waste cardboard into void fill at up to 600 lb/hour through a 17 in throat with a 0.8 in entry height.
You can compare the full stocked range in the Kobra collection, and if you also need output volume reduction, look at shredder and baler combination machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Kobra shredders made in Italy?
Yes. Kobra is the shredder brand of Elcoman srl, whose registered address is Via Gorizia 9, 20813 Bovisio Masciago (MB), Italy. Elcoman-issued datasheets carry a "Made in Italy" mark.
What does the number in a Kobra model name mean?
The leading number identifies the chassis and broadly tracks throat width — 240 and 260 are mid-size office machines, 300 and 310 are larger departmental units, 400 has a 16 in throat, and 430 is a conveyor-fed industrial machine. The letters and trailing digit describe the cut: S/SS is strip, C/CC is cross, HS is high security, AO is auto-oiler. Always confirm the DIN level separately, because a C2 is P-5, not P-2.
Are Kobra shredders NSA approved?
Some are listed, but the phrase needs care. NSA/CSS requires that a shredder used on classified paper produce a maximum edge size of 1 mm x 5 mm — which is P-7 territory under DIN 66399. Kobra HS-6 models cut 0.8 x 5 mm and therefore meet that particle requirement. On the October 2021 revision of the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List for paper shredders, a Kobra series covering the 240, 260, 270, 300, 310, 400 and 405 appears under the listed supplier Marquis Business Systems, LLC. NSA revises the EPL periodically, so before any classified-destruction procurement, check the current EPL for the exact model number you intend to buy. A P-4 or P-5 Kobra is never a substitute.
What is the difference between Kobra HS and HS-6?
HS models cut 1/32 x 7/16 in and are rated P-6 under DIN 66399. HS-6 models cut 0.8 x 5 mm and are rated P-7. Despite the naming, HS-6 is the higher grade of the two. If you are buying against an NSA particle-size requirement, HS-6 is the one that meets it.
Do Kobra shredders really run continuously?
On the models where Elcoman publishes the claim, yes. The 400 C4 AO, 430 TS C4 AO and 310 TS SS5 all carry explicit 24-hour continuous duty motor ratings with no timed cool-down. Elcoman does not publish an equivalent statement for every model in the catalogue, including the Cyclone, so check the specific datasheet rather than assuming the rating applies range-wide.
How much throughput do I lose moving from P-4 to P-7?
On the Kobra 400 chassis, roughly 70%. The 400 C4 AO at P-4 takes up to 48 sheets per pass; the 400 HS-6 AO at P-7 takes up to 14, with the same 2.9 HP motor and the same 16 in throat. Budget the time cost, not just the capital cost, when a security policy pushes you up the DIN scale.