Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.9 x 15 mm really P-5 and not P-6?
It is P-5. DIN 66399 sets P-5 at a maximum particle area of 30 mm2; 1.9 x 15 mm is 28.5 mm2, which clears it. P-6 requires 10 mm2 or less and a particle width no greater than 1 mm, which 1.9 mm does not meet. This distinction is worth checking on any listing, because 1.9 x 15 mm is frequently and incorrectly advertised as P-6 micro-cut. intimus's own datasheet states P-5 / O-4 / T-5 / E-4 / F-2 for this head.
How much slower is it than the 120 CP4?
Meaningfully slower. The CP4 takes up to 25 sheets a pass and intimus rates it at up to 680 sheets per minute; the CP5 takes up to 15 sheets a pass at up to 455 sheets per minute. In practice a batch that takes ten minutes on a CP4 takes closer to fifteen on a CP5, plus more frequent bin changes because finer waste is bulkier per sheet. That is the price of the security level, not a fault in the machine.
Is the intimus 120 CP5 NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle size of 1 mm x 5 mm and requires the specific model to appear on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List. At 1.9 x 15 mm the CP5 does not meet the particle requirement and is not listed. If you destroy US classified national security information, the intimus 120 CP7 in the same chassis produces 0.8 x 4.5 mm particles and intimus states it is listed on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List.
Can it shred CDs and plastic cards at P-5?
It is rated for them, at their own DIN levels rather than at P-5 - the head carries O-4 for optical media, T-5 for magnetic media and E-4 for electronic media. Practically that means CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, plastic cards and floppy disks can go through, but for intermittent use interleaved with paper rather than as continuous batches. Feeding a long run of discs through a P-5 head wears it faster than the same run through a coarser CP4.
Will legal, tabloid or A3 paper fit?
The intake is 310 mm (12.2 in). US Letter fits in either orientation and A4 fits unfolded. Legal (8.5 x 14 in) and tabloid (11 x 17 in) will only pass if fed lengthwise so that the short edge enters first. A3 fed on its short edge (297 mm) just fits. Anything genuinely wider than 12.2 in has to be folded, and a fold counts as two sheets against the capacity rating, so plan batch sizes accordingly.
How often will the bin need emptying?
The bin is 120 litres, about 31.75 US gallons. Cross-cut and micro-cut waste is airy, so a 120-litre bin holds substantially less paper by weight than the same volume of intact documents - and the finer the cut, the faster the bin fills for the same input. A department putting through a couple of copier boxes a week will typically change the bag once or twice weekly. If you are emptying daily, look at the intimus 130 chassis, which offers 135 litres.
Can I move this between floors myself?
It is on castors and weighs 45 kg, so one person can roll it across level floor and reposition it without a trolley. Getting it up or down stairs is a two-person job or a lift job - 45 kg in a 98 cm cabinet is awkward rather than heavy. The castors are intended for repositioning on a flat surface, not for being wheeled over thresholds and cable runs all day.
Does the cutting head need oiling?
Yes. intimus North America's warranty policy states that all cross-cut shredders require lubrication of the cutting cylinders in accordance with the operator's manual, and that failing to do so may null and void the warranty. Under-lubricated cylinders also grip paper poorly, which is the usual root cause when a machine that used to take a full stack starts jamming at half of it. Some SKUs in this range ship with an automatic oiler package; check the exact SKU you are ordering.