Choosing the correct size and speed for office paper shredders

In order to choose the correct shredder for your office you need to know the volume of paper being shredded weekly or monthly.

A small shredder that fits over your wastebasket is fine for home use, however, for a larger office, which generates far more paper a larger industrial model will be needed. To determine the precise type and model of office paper shredder that would work best in your office first, calculate the amount of paper your office generates on a monthly or weekly basis, then match that volume to the available models.

The greater the volume of paper your office generates, the larger throat or opening and capacity you will require. For high volumes of paper requiring destroying, consider a paper shredder that will take 20 sheets or greater with at least a 15 throat.

The speed of most paper shredder is measured in feet of paper shredded per minute. A shredder with a paper capacity of 20-sheets of paper should have a speed of 22 or 24 feet per minute. Remember do not attempt to over feed more sheets than the maximum aloud for this will cause the shredder to jam.

In addition to volume and speed, the third option you need to determine is the type of cut. There are two basic types of cuts, strip cut shredders and cross cut shredders. Strip cut shredders cuts the paper in long strips, while you are shredding the documentation, a thief may still be able to acquire some personal information. The cross cut shredder cuts the paper in both directions, making this more secure paper shredder.

Choosing the Speed and Size for Office Paper Shredders