Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to remove staples and paper clips before loading the AutoFeed tray?
No. HSM rates the AF150 for paper, staples, paper clips, credit cards and CD/DVD, and the cutting rollers are induction-hardened solid steel. Stapled documents can go into the tray as they are. This is the main practical difference between the AF150 and cheaper auto-feed shredders, where a single staple stops the stack and someone has to clear it. Ring binder mechanisms, bulldog clips and plastic comb bindings still need removing.
How long does a full 150 sheet tray take to shred?
HSM does not publish a completion time for a full tray, and we are not going to estimate one, because it varies with paper weight, staple density and whether the machine pauses on thicker sections. What HSM does publish is the throughput basis: a 610 W motor cutting at 4.5 x 30 mm. The point of the feature is that the time is unattended, so in practice the number that matters is that you are not standing there for it.
Can I still feed documents by hand while the tray is running?
Yes. The AF150 has a separate manual slot alongside the AutoFeed tray, rated at 8 to 10 sheets of 80 g/m2 paper and 9.45 in (240 mm) wide. HSM specifically lists dual-function operation, so an urgent document or a credit card can be put through without interrupting a tray load. Note that the manual rating is lower than the manual-only SECURIO B24, which takes 14 to 16 sheets.
How does the AF150 compare with the manual SECURIO B24 at the same cut?
Identical 4.5 x 30 mm P-4 cut, identical 9.2 gallon bin, identical 610 W motor. The AF150 adds a 150 sheet automatic tray and stands taller at 29.13 in against 23.82 in. The B24 wins on manual feed rate, 14 to 16 sheets against 8 to 10. Choose the AF150 for batch disposal where someone brings a stack; choose the B24 where people feed small amounts frequently throughout the day.
Does it shred CDs, DVDs and credit cards?
Yes to all three, through the manual slot rather than the AutoFeed tray. The model carries an O-3 rating for optical media and lists credit cards among its rated materials. Feed discs and cards one at a time. Optical media generates heavier, sharper waste than paper, so check the container more often than the paper sheet count would suggest if you destroy discs in quantity.
How often does the bin need emptying?
The container is 9.2 gallons (35 litres) and HSM measures it at approximately 415 shredded sheets at this cut. That works out at roughly three full AutoFeed tray loads. For a small office doing a monthly file purge that is fine; for sustained daily batch work you will be emptying it several times a session, and the SECURIO AF500 with a much larger container is the better tool.
Is P-4 adequate for confidential client files?
For ordinary personal and commercial data, yes, and P-4 is the level most written policies set as their minimum. DIN 66399 caps P-4 at a 160 mm2 particle; this machine cuts 4.5 x 30 mm, which is 135 mm2. Where P-4 is usually insufficient is special category data such as health records, or where a client contract explicitly names level 5. HSM builds the AF150 in 1.9 x 15 mm for P-5 if that is your requirement.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a maximum particle of 1 mm x 5 mm and listing on the NSA Evaluated Products List. The AF150 cuts 4.5 x 30 mm and is not on the EPL. No AutoFeed machine in the SECURIO range currently meets the NSA specification. For classified US government destruction you must select from the current EPL, and a DIN rating on its own never satisfies that requirement.