Before you specify
Frequently Asked Questions
Will wide computer printouts fit?
Yes — that is the main reason to choose this cabinet. The throat is 16 inches (400 mm), so continuous-form and EDP printouts up to that width feed flat without folding. Letter, legal and tabloid are all straightforward. Anything wider than 16 inches still has to be folded or torn, and folding costs you several sheets' worth of the capacity rating per fold.
How many sheets will it take in real use?
Kobra rates it at up to 47 sheets of A4 70 g/m² and 43–45 sheets at 80 g/m². That is one of the narrower gaps between the two paper weights in this range, because the strip cut is coarse enough that paper weight matters less. Ratings assume flat, unstapled sheets; a heavily stapled set will feed as a stiffer block and reduce the practical figure.
Is P-2 enough for HIPAA or GLBA material?
No, not as a general rule. P-2 means 5.8 mm strips that remain partially legible and can be reassembled. Programmes built on HIPAA, GLBA or FACTA are normally written around cross-cut particles or finer. Keep the 390 S5 for bulk internal paper, and route anything with names, account numbers or health information through a P-4 or P-5 machine such as the Kobra 390 C4 or 400 C2.
How often does the 53-gallon bag need changing?
More often than the volume suggests. Strip-cut waste is bulky and springy, so a bag reaches capacity on a lower weight of paper than it would on a cross-cut machine. Continuous purge work will fill a bag within a few hours; routine departmental use typically means a change every week or two. The machine stops automatically when the bag is full, so you will not overfill it.
What bags does it use, and can I use generic liners?
Kobra lists art. SB-35, 50 bags per box, as the consumable for this model. Generic 55-gallon liners will fit the frame, but strip-cut waste has sharp edges and compacts into a heavy, awkward load, so thin liners tear at the seam when lifted. If you use generic bags, buy a heavy-gauge contractor grade.
Does it have an automatic oiler?
No. The base 390 S5 has no integrated oiling system. Strip-cut knives are the least oil-sensitive geometry, so periodic manual oiling of the cutting head is sufficient. If you want oiling handled automatically, the 390 C4 AUTO OILER is the same cabinet with a P-4 cross-cut head and a built-in oiler.