Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1.9 x 15 mm genuinely P-5?
Yes. DIN 66399 sets P-5 at a maximum particle area of 30 mm²; 1.9 × 15 mm is 28.5 mm². Note that the rounded imperial figure Kobra prints on the US datasheet, 3/32 × 5/8 in., converts to about 38 mm² and would fall outside P-5. The metric dimensions are the ones the rating is based on, and they are what Kobra's European datasheet publishes.
Why does it only take 19 sheets when the CC4 takes 31?
Because the particles are five times smaller in area. Producing 28.5 mm² particles instead of 156 mm² ones takes far more cutting work per sheet, and the motor is the same 1.5 HP unit in both machines. This is the fundamental trade in shredder selection: security class and sheet capacity move in opposite directions on a given chassis.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum 1 × 5 mm particle and a current listing on the NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List. At 1.9 × 15 mm the CC2 meets neither condition. A P-5 rating is not an NSA approval and should never be presented as one. If you need an NSA-listed machine on this chassis, that is the KOBRA 310 TS HS-6 AO.
How much does the automatic oiler matter on a micro-cut machine?
More than on any other cut type. Micro-cut knives have the most cutting edges per revolution and the tightest clearances, so paper dust and adhesive residue build up quickly. An under-oiled micro-cut head loses sheet capacity first and particle consistency second, and both are hard to notice until performance has clearly dropped. An integrated oiler makes the maintenance happen without anyone remembering to do it.
Can it shred CDs and credit cards?
Yes, through a separate cutting unit with its own opening and bin. On this chassis that unit is rated O-1 T-2 E-2, which is a low destruction class — fine for retired backup discs and expired cards, not adequate for sensitive optical media. If discs carry data at the same sensitivity as the paper going through the P-5 head, use a dedicated optical media machine such as the KOBRA 400 HS OM.
How many people can share it?
Realistically, a team rather than a floor. With 14–16 sheets a pass on 80 g/m² paper, throughput is the constraint, not the motor. A workgroup of 10–20 people producing normal daily volumes is comfortable; a whole department feeding it during month-end will queue. If a group that size needs P-5, consider the automatic-feeder variant Kobra lists (310 TS AF CC2 AO, 170-sheet feeder) or a 400-series machine.
How often will the bin need emptying?
Micro-cut waste packs densely, so the 40-gallon bag holds a lot of paper by weight — substantially more than the same bag on a strip-cut machine. Against that, the shredder puts less paper through per hour. Most sites find the bag lasts weeks rather than days. The machine stops automatically when the bag is full.