
Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the automatic feed actually work?
You lift the lid, drop in a stack of up to 100 sheets of 80 g/m2 paper, and close it. The machine pulls sheets from the stack a few at a time and shreds until the tray is empty, then stops. You do not need to stay with it. There is also a manual slot for single sheets and cards so you are not forced to open the tray for one receipt. Fanning the stack before loading reduces misfeeds.
Can it shred staples and paper clips?
Yes. HSM rates the AF100 for paper containing staples and paper clips, and the cutting rollers are solid steel. In practice you should still avoid feeding heavily stapled bundles through the automatic tray, because a thick staple can bind the separating mechanism; put those through the manual slot instead. Bulldog clips, binder rings and laminated sheets should always be removed.
Can it shred CDs or DVDs?
No. The AF100 is rated E-3, F-1, P-4 and T-4, with no optical media class, so HSM does not list CDs or DVDs among the materials it accepts. It will take credit cards through the manual slot. If you need to destroy discs regularly, choose a model with a published O rating - the SECURIO AF300 in 3/16 inch x 1 1/8 inch is rated O-3, and the Pure 940 range goes to O-4.
How often will the bin need emptying?
The bin is 6.6 gallons and HSM rates it at roughly 200 sheets of P-4 waste, which is about two full autofeed loads. If you shred a 100-sheet stack most days you will be emptying it twice a week. That is the AF100's main practical limit and the main reason to consider the AF150, which pairs a 150-sheet tray with a 9.2-gallon bin holding well over 400 sheets.
Is it quiet enough for a shared office?
HSM quotes approximately 55-60 dB(A) at idle. That is comparable to normal conversation and is unobtrusive in an open office, though the machine is audibly working when it is actually cutting. Because the autofeed lets you close the lid and leave, most of the noise happens while nobody is standing over it. It is not silent, and it is not suited to a quiet room where calls are being taken directly beside it.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle size of 1 mm x 5 mm and requires the exact model to be on the NSA Evaluated Products List. The AF100 is a P-4 machine at 4 x 25 mm and is not listed. No SECURIO AF model is NSA listed. For classified material you need a P-7 shredder that appears by name on the current EPL.