GBC ShredMaster SX20-08 Super Cross-Cut Shredder, P-4, 20 Sheets, 1 - 5 Users

The GBC ShredMaster SX20-08 is the largest machine in ACCO's personal ShredMaster line: a P-4 super cross-cut shredder that takes 20 sheets of 20 lb paper per pass, cuts to 5/32 x 1 1/2 in (approx. 4 x 38 mm) and is rated for 240 minutes of continuous running. With an 8-gallon bin and a rating of one to five users, it is aimed at a small office that wants one shared shredder rather than several personal ones.

SX20-08 at a glance

• 20 sheets per pass, the most in the personal ShredMaster range
• Four-hour (240-minute) run rating
• P-4 particle of around 152 mm²
• 8-gallon pull-out bin
• Whisper Shred operation under 58 dB
• ACCO recommends it for 1 to 5 users

What the four-hour rating means for a five-person office

Most personal shredders are built for a few minutes of use at a time and need long rests after that. The SX20-08's 240-minute rating changes the job it can do. A small team can drop paper into it throughout the day, and an end-of-year archive purge can be done in one afternoon. With the motor rarely the constraint, the 8-gallon bin becomes the practical limit: with five regular users, expect to change it far more often than with one.

The control panel helps when several people share a machine. Touch controls show LED warnings for a full bin, an open door, overheating and overload, so the next person can see what needs attention. Auto-reverse pushes back a stack that is too thick, and Eco Power Save shuts the shredder down after two minutes of inactivity.

Security level: P-4, not micro-cut

ACCO's product name uses micro-cut, while its specification lists super cross-cut and P-4. The particle, about 4 x 38 mm, confirms P-4 under DIN 66399. That suits most confidential business paperwork, such as invoices, contracts and personnel files. Where a client contract or regulator specifies P-5, this model will not meet it.

SX20-08 specifications

SX20-08 against the nearest alternatives

• ShredMaster SX15-06: the same cut with 15 sheets per pass, a 6-gallon bin and a 120-minute rating, in a smaller cabinet for one or two people.
• ShredMaster SM15-08: the same cabinet size and 8-gallon bin with a much finer particle of about 40 mm², at 15 sheets per pass.
• Momentum X22-23: a P-4 machine with 22 sheets per pass and a 23-gallon bin for groups that outgrow an 8-gallon container.

Who should buy the SX20-08

It is a sound choice for a small office, a practice or a home business with a regular volume of confidential paper, where one quiet machine near the printer serves everyone. It is also a good fit for a single user with a large backlog who wants to clear it in one session.

Look elsewhere if you need to shred credit cards or optical discs, since ACCO rates this head for paper, staples and clips only; if your policy specifies P-5; or if more than five people will use it, where a larger bin will matter more than the run time.