Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can share this before it bottlenecks?
One, realistically two who shred lightly. The C-series is HSM's personal line: short duty cycle, a 6.6 gallon bin, no continuous-run rating. Three or more regular users will spend more time queueing and emptying than shredding. A workgroup of five to fifteen wants a departmental machine - in HSM's range that is the SECURIO P36i, with a 38.3 gallon bin and continuous operation.
Is 1/4 inch strip cut secure enough?
Only for material you would be comfortable putting in a recycling bin if it were torn in half. 5.8 mm strips fall under DIN 66399 P-2, the second-lowest of seven levels, and text along the length of a strip remains readable. Do not use it for customer data, payroll, medical information or anything covered by a retention and destruction policy. P-4 is the usual minimum for those, which on this chassis is the C16 4 x 25 mm.
Can it shred CDs or DVDs?
No. The C16 5.8 mm is rated E-2, P-2 and T-2 - paper, and electronic or magnetic-stripe cards. There is no O rating for optical media, so CDs and DVDs are outside its specification. The C18 5.8 mm in this range does carry an O-2 rating and will take optical discs; on the departmental side, the P36i 1.9 x 15 mm is rated O-4.
How often will I be emptying the container?
More often than the sheet capacity suggests. Strip cut produces bulky, springy waste that occupies far more volume per sheet than particle cut, so the 25 l container fills quickly on a machine that can eat 17 sheets at a time. Expect to empty it every couple of days at moderate use. There is a window in the housing to check the level without opening the machine.
Does it need oiling?
HSM does not specify a routine oiling schedule for the C-series strip-cut models the way it does for micro-cut machines; strip cutters are far more tolerant of dry running. If throughput drops or the machine starts leaving uncut edges, applying shredder oil across the cutting rollers and running a short reverse cycle usually restores it. Never use aerosol lubricants or vegetable oil - both gum the rollers.
What warranty applies?
HSM publishes a 5-year machine warranty and a lifetime warranty on the solid steel cutting rollers for SECURIO C, B and P series models rated P-2 to P-5. This C16 is P-2, so it qualifies for both. Machines rated P-6 and P-7 get a 3-year warranty and no lifetime roller cover - worth knowing if you are comparing this against a high-security model.