Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a full 300-sheet tray fill the bin?
Almost. HSM rates the 35-litre bin at approximately 430 sheets of P-5 waste, so a full 300-sheet tray takes it to roughly 70% capacity. In practice you will empty the bin after every second load rather than every load. This is worth knowing before you buy: the AF300 doubles the tray of the AF150 but keeps the same bin, so the larger tray saves you reloading, not emptying.
What is the difference between this and the AF150 at the same cut size?
The automatic tray holds 300 sheets instead of 150, and manual capacity rises from 6-7 sheets to 8-10. Throat width, bin volume, motor, footprint, noise and warranty are identical, and both use the same 1.9 x 15 mm P-5 cutting head. Choose the AF300 if paper arrives in batches; choose the AF150 if it arrives a few sheets at a time and you would rather spend the difference elsewhere.
Can it shred CDs, DVDs or credit cards?
Credit cards yes, through the manual slot, one at a time. CDs and DVDs no - this configuration is rated E-4, F-2, P-5 and T-5, with no O class for optical media, so HSM does not list discs among the accepted materials. If you need disc destruction on this chassis, the 3/16 inch x 1 1/8 inch version of the AF300 carries an O-3 rating, at the cost of dropping from P-5 to P-4.
Can I leave it running unattended?
That is the point of the autofeed: you load the tray, close the lid and the machine works through the stack, then stops on its own. It is sensible to be within earshot the first few times so you learn how the machine sounds when it hits a misfeed. Fan the stack before loading, remove bulldog clips and plastic wallets, and keep the tray within the 300-sheet rating rather than overfilling it.
Is this shredder NSA approved?
No. NSA/CSS Specification 02-01 requires a 1 mm x 5 mm maximum particle and requires the model itself to appear on the NSA Evaluated Products List. The AF300 at P-5 meets neither test and is not listed. A P-5 or even P-6 rating does not confer NSA approval. Classified material requires a shredder named on the current EPL, which no SECURIO AF model is.
How many people can share one AF300?
It suits a team of roughly five to ten people who shred regularly but not constantly. The constraint is the 35-litre bin rather than the motor or the tray: at around 430 sheets per fill, a group producing a ream of confidential waste a week will empty it about once a week. Beyond that scale, a departmental machine with a 165-litre cabinet such as the HSM Pure 940 is the more sensible answer.
Does it need oiling?
Yes, periodically. P-5 heads generate fine paper dust that accumulates on the rollers and gradually reduces sheet capacity if it is left. There is no automatic oiler on this model, so use HSM shredder oil applied across the throat width, run the machine briefly in reverse, then feed a few sheets. Avoid aerosol lubricants and any vegetable-based oil, both of which leave residue that makes the problem worse.