Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from the standard P36i 1.9 x 15 mm?
The paper performance is identical - same 1.9 x 15 mm cut, same P-5 level, same 16 to 18 sheets, same bin and motor. This version adds a separate 4 x 7 mm cutting unit for optical discs and weighs 74 kg against 68 kg. The base machine is already rated O-4 and can take a disc through the main throat; the separate unit exists so that routine disc destruction does not wear the paper cutter.
What size are the CD fragments?
The dedicated unit cuts optical media at 4 x 7 mm. That is a genuine destruction, not a snap-in-half. For most commercial data, including backups and customer discs, it is more than adequate. If you are working to a government standard for classified optical media you should be reading the NSA's separate evaluated products list for optical media destruction devices rather than a paper shredder specification.
Can it take Blu-ray discs and floppy disks?
HSM specifies the separate unit for optical media - CDs and DVDs. Blu-ray uses a harder, differently constructed disc and is not something to assume without checking with HSM for your configuration. Floppy disks and magnetic-stripe cards fall under the T rating, which this machine holds at T-5 on the main unit. When in doubt, ask before feeding: recovering a jammed cutting unit is expensive.
Is the CD unit a separate motor?
No. The second cutting unit shares the machine's 1000 W drive and the same 145 l waste compartment - it is a separate throat and separate cutters, not a separate machine. That means you should not feed paper and discs simultaneously, and it means disc waste and paper waste end up mixed in the same box, which is worth knowing if your disposal contract separates media streams.
How many people is this sized for?
HSM positions the P36i as a departmental machine for roughly five to fifteen users. With continuous operation, 16 to 18 sheets a pass and a 38.3 gallon bin it comfortably serves a floor. If you are buying it for one person because of the CD unit, you are paying for capacity you will not use - a desk-side machine plus a dedicated media destroyer may cost less.
Does the warranty cover both cutting units?
HSM's published position is a 5-year machine warranty plus a lifetime warranty on the solid steel cutting rollers for SECURIO models rated P-2 to P-5. This machine is P-5, so it sits inside that band. Confirm with your supplier how the separate media cutting unit is treated under the roller warranty specifically, since HSM's wording refers to the shredder's cutting rollers.