Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this handle a stapled 20-page report?
Not in one go. The rollers are rated for staples, but the sheet capacity is six to seven, so a 20-page stapled set needs to be fed in three passes or split. Feeding the whole bundle risks a jam. The staple itself is not the problem - the paper thickness is. Use the reverse function if a bundle catches part-way in.
What is the difference between this and the C14 4 x 25 mm?
The cut, the security level and the throat are identical. The C16 is about 2 inches taller, holds 6.6 gallons instead of 5.3, runs a 185 W motor instead of 160 W, and takes six to seven sheets instead of five to six. The C14 is the choice when the machine has to fit a tight space; the C16 is the choice when you would rather empty the bin less often.
How often will the container need emptying?
HSM rates the 25 l container at approximately 230 sheets of shredded paper. At 40 to 60 pages a day that is roughly weekly. Particle waste packs denser than strip waste, so this model gets noticeably more paper into the same container than the strip-cut C16. The housing has an inspection window so you can check the level before it stops on a full bin.
Can it destroy credit cards, and how many at once?
Yes - it is rated T-4 for magnetic media and E-3 for electronic data carriers, and HSM lists credit cards among its shreddable materials. Feed cards one at a time, not stacked, and feed them alone rather than in the middle of a paper batch. Chip cards are harder on the rollers than plain plastic, so keep card shredding occasional rather than routine on a personal machine.
Is it quiet enough for an open-plan office?
HSM quotes approximately 55 to 60 dB(A) at idle, which is around the level of ordinary conversation. It is audible when paper is passing through but not disruptive. Because it runs only when the light barrier is broken, it makes no noise between jobs. If absolute quiet matters more than security level, no C-series model will be meaningfully quieter - they all sit in the same band.
Does P-4 satisfy a document destruction policy?
Usually, but check the wording. P-4 under DIN 66399 caps particles at 160 mm2; this machine produces 100 mm2. Most corporate and healthcare destruction policies that name a level name P-4 for personal data. If yours names P-5 or higher, no C-series machine qualifies - the smallest P-5 option here is the departmental SECURIO P36i 1.9 x 15 mm.