You will, of course, have heard of paper shredders; machines which cut paper into strips or particles of different sizes according to their security level – with the resulting pieces impossible to read or reassemble. The appliances themselves come in varied measurements, from small ones for home use to those with an industrial capacity.
So you can find a device to suit your needs in terms of security and space restrictions. And while in this digital age of less paper there’s been a lot of talk of that mythical beast the ‘paperless office’, government organisations, businesses and private individuals still use shredders to destroy documents which are confidential, private or otherwise sensitive.
It goes without saying that people are increasingly mindful of the security of their information, which so many would love to get their hands on. Shredders give peace of mind that you don’t get from binning or recycling. They stop sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands, so that financial and other personal information remains secure.
Apart from anything else, businesses are responsible for destroying personal information promptly and securely. While the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules no longer apply post-Brexit, our own version, UK-GDPR, has been in force since 2020.
At the same time, by shredding documents you no longer need, as well as getting rid of redundant paperwork safely and securely, you streamline and declutter your office.
Not only that, but for many people there’s just something so satisfying about the whir of the machine as it tears papers into ribbons.
Finally, shredders are low-maintenance – a spot of regular oiling is all you need to keep yours running smoothly. So these machines definitely are still worth it.
Considerations when buying paper shredders
Here are some things to think about before you do anything else:
- Your security needs. Security levels range from P1 to P7, with the higher numbers referring to smaller, and therefore more secure, shred sizes. Choose from a basic strip cut, an enhanced-security cross cut or the superior-security micro cut which shreds each piece of A4 into more than 2,000 particles – for highly confidential documents.
- Capacity. Think about how much paper you would normally shred and how many people will need to use your shredder. Understand the bin capacity of your potential machine, and run time – i.e. how much paperwork you can put through the appliance before it needs to cool down.
- Paper jams. This can be a potential source of exasperation for some users of these devices. But modern models have good anti-jam technology to prevent this issue – ensure your chosen device features this.
- Safety. You may not think of a shredder as a particularly dangerous machine, but if you use yours at home, there can be a risk to pets and children, albeit a small one. To mitigate this, opt for a model with features such as a safety lock.
- Want to shred more than paper? Some shredders these days make short work of credit cards, staples, paper clips, CDs and DVDs as well as regular A4.
- Manual or auto feed? Most shredders are manually operated, i.e. you stay by the shredders and insert the documents yourself. But if you have large volumes of paper containing data that’s not highly sensitive, or if spending a lot of time physically shredding papers is neither productive nor convenient, consider an auto-freed version.
Paper shredders from Octopus Office
At Octopus Office, one of the north-west’s most trusted office products suppliers, we offer a range of shredders yielding mini, cross and micro-cut shredding. We also provide oils to keep your shredder running smoothly – order some along with your machine.
Browse and order online or call 0161 429 8118 if you have any questions for the friendly team. We offer same-day delivery across the north-west using our own fleet of vans, or next-day delivery nationwide thanks to our trusted courier partners. Alternatively, pick up your order yourself from our trade counter in Stockport.