Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the S5 rated P-2 when its strips are wider than the S4's?
Because DIN 66399 sets the P-2 boundary for strip cut at a strip width of 6 mm. The S5's 5.8 mm strip sits just inside that limit, and the S4's 3.8 mm strip sits well inside it, so both machines land at P-2 despite the visible difference in fragment size. The rating tells you the class, not the margin. If you care about how much text survives on each fragment, the S4 is the tighter cut.
How many sheets will it take with US 20 lb paper?
Kobra publishes 30 to 32 sheets on A4 at 70 g/m2 and 24 to 26 sheets at 80 g/m2. US 20 lb bond letter paper is about 75 g/m2, which sits between the two, so plan on roughly 27 to 29 sheets in normal use. Treat the published maximum as a ceiling reached with fresh, flat, standard-weight paper, not as a target for every pass. Folded or glossy stock counts for more than its sheet count suggests.
Does it need shredder oil?
No. This is an oil-free strip-cut machine, so there is no lubrication routine and nothing to stock. Over a few years that is a meaningful difference against the cross-cut models on the same chassis, both in cost and in the number of maintenance tasks that get forgotten. The trade-off is the security level: oil-free operation is a property of the simpler strip head, and that head only reaches P-2.
Can it handle CDs, DVDs and floppy disks?
Yes. Kobra lists paper, credit cards, chip cards, CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs and floppy disks for this model. Feed hard media individually rather than mixed into a paper stack, and do not expect the fragment size to satisfy a media-destruction standard: this is a P-2 strip head, so a disc is rendered unplayable rather than securely destroyed. Classified optical media needs a purpose-built destroyer.
How often will the 110-litre bin need emptying?
Strip-cut waste is bulky and traps a lot of air, so this cabinet fills faster per sheet than it would on the cross-cut C4. In a high-volume setting expect to empty it every couple of days rather than weekly. The bin sensor triggers a safety stop when it reads full, so the machine will not keep shredding into an overfilled cabinet. Bags are not included with the machine.
Is the 300.1 S5 NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a particle no larger than 1 mm x 5 mm and the specific model has to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List for Paper Shredders. The 300.1 S5 cuts at 5.8 mm strips and is rated P-2, so it does not meet either condition and must not be used to destroy classified national security information. Kobra's models that are on the current EPL include the 300 HS-6 and the 270 TS HS-6, both of which cut 0.8 x 5 mm.
What warranty covers this machine in the US?
We do not publish a US warranty term on this page because Kobra's US warranty is set by the importing distributor rather than printed on the factory datasheet. Kobra's UK distributor publishes two years on the machine and ten years on the cutting blades (parts only) for this chassis, which is a reasonable guide to the factory position but not a US commitment. Ask us for the warranty document that ships with your unit before you order, and we will send the current terms in writing.