Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly does the metal detection do?
It senses metal entering the feed and stops the machine before the item reaches the cutting rollers. It does not shred metal or make the machine safe to feed staples into - it prevents the damage that a missed staple would otherwise cause to a 1 x 5 mm cutting unit. In a shared facility where different people feed the machine, that is the feature that keeps a P-7 cutter alive. You still remove fasteners as a matter of procedure.
Is this machine NSA approved?
HSM's SECURIO P36i (L6) and P36i (L6) OMDD Combo both appear on the current NSA/CSS Evaluated Products List for paper shredders, and the 1 x 5 mm cut meets the NSA/CSS 02-01 particle requirement. Because this is a specific configuration, confirm that the exact model designation you order matches an entry on the EPL edition current at the time of purchase. Optical media destruction devices are covered by a separate NSA list.
What can go through the OMDD slot?
The separate cutting unit works at 2 x 2 mm and carries O-6, E-5 and T-6 ratings, covering optical discs, electronic data carriers such as chip cards and USB devices, and magnetic media. Feed items one at a time. Do not put paper through the media slot or media through the paper slot - the two cutting units are built for different materials and the paper unit will not survive a disc.
Why only eight sheets a pass?
That is the cost of P-7. Producing particles of roughly 5 mm2 requires far more cutting work than a cross cut, and every machine at this level is similarly slow. HSM's own throughput figure for this configuration is 21 kg per hour at a cutting speed of 140 mm/s. If eight sheets is unworkable, the honest solution is a lower security level rather than a different P-7 machine.
How long before the bin needs changing?
The waste compartment holds 145 l (38.3 gallons), and P-7 particles pack densely - HSM rates a 1 x 5 mm P36i at roughly 2,667 sheets. Paper and media waste share the same compartment, which matters if your disposal contract requires the two streams to be separated. The touch display warns before the bin is full and the machine stops.
What warranty applies to a P-7 machine?
HSM's 5-year machine warranty and lifetime cutting-roller warranty apply only to SECURIO models rated P-2 to P-5. This is a P-7 machine, so it carries a 3-year machine warranty and no lifetime roller cover. Given that the micro-cut roller assembly is the costliest part of the shredder, that is a material difference - and it is part of why the metal detection on this variant is worth paying for.
How is it different from the P36 L6 OMDD Combo?
Both have the 1 x 5 mm P-7 paper cutter and a separate OMDD cutting unit, and both carry the E-5, F-3, O-6, P-7 and T-6 ratings. This variant adds metal detection on the paper feed. HSM lists this configuration at 68 kg against 74 kg for the OMDD Combo. If your operators are consistently disciplined about removing staples, the Combo does the same destruction work; if they are not, the sensor is the difference between a stopped machine and a replaced cutting unit.