KOBRA 240.1 C4

The KOBRA 240.1 C4 is a P-4 cross-cut shredder with an automatic oiler, cutting 3.5 x 30 mm (1/8 x 1 1/8 in) particles at up to 17 sheets per pass through a 9.5 in (240 mm) throat. It is the only cross-cut 240.1 model rated for CDs and DVDs, which makes it a sensible all-round machine for an office that handles personal data on paper and disc.

KOBRA 240.1 C4 at a glance

• P-4 cross cut, full rating P-4 O-3 T-4 E-3 F-1
• Up to 17 sheets per pass at 17 ft/min
• Takes CDs, DVDs, credit cards, smart cards and film
• Automatic oiling system for the cutting head
• 10.5-gallon cabinet on casters

One machine for paper records and old discs

A 3.5 x 30 mm particle works out at about 105 mm², well below the 160 mm² that DIN 66399 permits at P-4. That is the level many privacy policies point to for employee, customer and patient paperwork. The O-3 optical media rating means discs go through the same throat instead of needing a separate destroyer; feed them one at a time rather than inside a paper stack. Hard drives, SSDs and USB sticks are outside what it is built for.

Built for shared use: oiler, chain drive and safety stops

Cross-cut cutters need lubrication to keep their rated stack size. On the 240.1 C4 a built-in oiler does that job, so performance does not quietly fall off when nobody remembers the oil sheets. Power reaches the cutters from a 4/5 HP motor rated for 24-hour operation through a heavy-duty chain drive with metal gears, and the carbon hardened knives accept staples and clips.

Day-to-day details suit a machine several people share. An automatic reverse clears overloads without anyone reaching for a switch. The head stops if the cabinet door is opened or the bin is full. After 8 seconds of inactivity, the Energy Smart System switches to standby, which is where an office shredder spends most of its day.

KOBRA 240.1 C4 specifications

How the 240.1 C4 sits between the C2 and the strip-cut models

• Up to the 240.1 C2: P-5 with a 1.9 x 15 mm particle, but 12 sheets per pass and no disc rating. Only worth it when P-5 is a stated requirement.
• Down to the 240.1 S4 or S5: P-2 strip cut at 26 or 31 sheets, quieter at 55 dB(A) and with no oiler to maintain, but not suitable for personal data.
• Across to the 300.1 C4: P-4 at 3.9 x 40 mm with a 12.2 in throat, 20-22 sheets and a 29-gallon bin for bigger groups.

Who should buy the 240.1 C4

It is a strong default for HR, accounting, clinics, schools and law offices: P-4 covers most written policies, 17 sheets keeps the line moving, and discs no longer need a separate plan. Skip it if a regulator names P-5, if your shredding is purely routine paper that a faster strip-cut model would handle, or if 58-61 dB(A) next to quiet desks would be a problem. Letter and legal sheets fit the 9.5 in throat unfolded.