Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the actual particle size, and does it really qualify as P-5?
The 60 CP5 cuts to 1.9 x 15 mm. That is 28.5 mm2 per particle, and DIN 66399 sets the P-5 ceiling at 30 mm2, so it qualifies with a small margin. It is worth checking this arithmetic on any shredder you buy, because P-5 claims are frequently made for cuts that are actually P-4. If you ever see 0.78 x 11 mm quoted as P-5, that is wrong - it is 8.6 mm2 and a genuine P-6.
Can it shred CDs, DVDs or credit cards?
Plastic cards yes, optical discs no. intimus rates the 60 CP5 for paper with staples and paper clips, plastic card and foil. Unlike the 60 CP4 in the same series, CD, DVD and Blu-ray are not on its approved materials list. If you need to destroy optical media on the same machine, choose the CP4 and accept P-4, or destroy discs separately on a dedicated media shredder such as the intimus FlashEx.
How much slower is it than the 60 CP4?
Roughly 30 percent fewer sheets per pass: up to 12 at 80 g/m2 against up to 17 for the CP4. Both machines use the same motor and the same feed opening, so the difference comes entirely from the finer cut. In day-to-day use the gap feels larger than the numbers suggest, because a P-5 head is less forgiving of an over-thick stack. If you feed it steadily rather than in handfuls, you will get better results and fewer reverses.
How often will a small team need to empty the bin?
The 60-litre bin holds about 1,500 shredded sheets at P-5 - more than the CP4 manages in the same bin, because finer particles pack more densely. For a team of three or four destroying normal volumes of sensitive paperwork, that is typically once a week. Heavy users clearing files will empty it more often. There is a bin-full indicator, and running past it is a common cause of jams at the base of the cutting head.
Is the 60 CP5 approved for classified material?
No. P-5 is a commercial and personal-data security level. Destruction of US classified material is governed by NSA/CSS 02-01, which requires a maximum 1 mm x 5 mm particle and the specific model to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List. The 60 CP5's 1.9 x 15 mm cut does not meet that particle requirement. The 60 CP7 in the same family cuts to 0.8 x 4.5 mm; if you are procuring for classified destruction, verify the model's current listing on the NSA EPL yourself before ordering.
What maintenance does it need?
Oil the cutting head each time you empty the bin, or after roughly 30 minutes of continuous operation. Apply shredder oil in a zig-zag across the full width of the feed opening and then run a short reverse cycle. Keep the bin liner from bunching up under the cutting head, and do not run the machine with the bin-full light on. Beyond that there is no scheduled servicing; the sealed cabinet keeps dust out of the drive.
Does the lifetime cutting-cylinder warranty apply to this model?
Yes. intimus North America classes the 60 CP5 as a commercial shredder, which carries two years parts, 90 days labour, and a lifetime limited warranty against fracture of the cutting cylinders. Note that this cover does not extend to the high-security 60 CP7, which gets one year on parts and one year on the cutting cylinders. If long-term cutter cover matters to your procurement case, the CP5 is the better-protected machine.