Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this machine NSA approved?
The SECURIO P36i (L6) OMDD Combo appears on the current NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List for paper shredders, which is the list that matters for classified paper destruction under NSA/CSS 02-01. Two things to check before you rely on it: confirm that the exact configuration you order matches the EPL entry, and note that optical media destruction devices are evaluated on a separate NSA list. Always verify against the current published EPL rather than a dealer claim, including ours.
Why is there a separate slot for CDs?
Because a 1 x 5 mm paper cutter cannot survive optical discs. The cutting rollers that produce P-7 particles are extremely fine, and disc fragments would damage them. HSM's answer is a second, coarser cutting unit built for optical and chip media, rated O-6, E-5 and T-6. You feed paper into one slot and discs or cards into the other; they share the machine, the bin and the motor, but not the cutters.
Only eight sheets a pass - is that a mistake?
No, that is the correct figure at 80 g/m2. Cutting a sheet into roughly 5 mm2 particles is enormously more work than a cross cut, and every P-7 machine on the market pays for it in throughput. If eight sheets is unworkable for your volume, the honest answer is that you need a lower security level, not a different P-7 machine: the P36i at 0.78 x 11 mm is P-6 at 11 to 13 sheets, and at 1.9 x 15 mm it is P-5 at 16 to 18.
Can I feed stapled documents into the paper slot?
Do not make a habit of it. Metal is the main threat to a P-7 cutting unit, which is precisely why HSM sells a variant of this machine with metal detection built in. Remove staples, clips and any fastener before feeding. If your workflow cannot guarantee that, order the metal-detection version (1854121N) instead - the sensor stops the machine before metal reaches the rollers.
What does the waste go into, and how often is it emptied?
A 145 l (38.3 gallon) compartment behind a full-width door, lined with HSM's cardboard box for the P36i/P40i chassis. Because P-7 particles are tiny they pack densely - HSM rates a 1 x 5 mm P36i at roughly 2,667 sheets before the bin is full - so despite the low sheets-per-pass figure the bin lasts a long time. The display gives a full-bin notification and the machine stops.
Does it need oiling?
The P36i has an integrated automatic oiler, so routine manual oiling is not part of the job. This matters more on a micro-cut machine than on any other type: fine cutting rollers depend on lubrication and dry running is the usual cause of premature wear. You still need to keep the oiler topped up with HSM shredder oil - that is the consumable that replaces the manual routine, not an elimination of it.
What warranty does it carry?
HSM's lifetime cutting-roller warranty and 5-year machine warranty apply to SECURIO models rated P-2 to P-5 only. A P-7 machine falls outside both and carries HSM's 3-year machine warranty. This is a genuine downgrade against the lower-security P36i variants and is worth factoring into a total-cost comparison, particularly given that micro-cut rollers are the most expensive part of the machine.
How is this different from the P36i with metal detection?
The metal-detection variant (1854121N) has the same 1 x 5 mm paper cutter and the same separate OMDD cutting unit, plus a sensor that halts the feed if metal is detected before it reaches the rollers. HSM lists that machine at 68 kg against 74 kg for this one. If your operators are disciplined about removing staples, this model does the same job; if they are not, the sensor pays for itself the first time it works.