We offer the largest range of models and options in Australia. Making a choice can be daunting to a beginner. Here is some simple advice to make the task easier for you.

Choose a shredder based just on its price can be a big mistake. Shredders are mechanical devices that are designed for different security levels and volumes.  Making the wrong choice can lead to expensive repairs.

To help you choose the right machine for your situation, here are a few helpful tips. Don’t be afraid to ask for our free advice and guidance. We also offer a complete, no obligation security survey for your office. Call 1300-854471.

Tips when choosing a shredder

Consider the frequency of use

Small personal shredders are designed for infrequent use and only a few pages at once. Larger office shredders can handle frequent use by multiple users in an office and can destroy more pages per pass. Don’t make the mistake of buying a small shredder because you don’t use it very often and then thrash it once a year when you destroy your archives. Choosing a machine that is too small can cause a number of problems:

• Your staff get frustrated and end up just throwing away documents in the normal rubbish bin instead of shredding them.
• The shredder gets overloaded by people trying to shred too many sheets at once which wears out the motor or gears leading to expensive repairs.
• The shredder’s waste collection bag is always full (nobody ever empties it) so the shredder automatically cuts out and users throw their secure documents in the normal bin again.

Do you need to destroy CDs or other media?

CDs contain far more  data than paper documents. You should plan to destroy old backup or data CDs. Don’t just throw them away. If you need this capability, make sure the shredder you choose is capable of destroying CDs. Not all shredders are designed for that purpose. We also offer disintegrators that can destroy video cassettes, tapes, x-rays, film and even PC hard drives!

What security level is appropriate for you?

Shredders are available in many different cutting widths. For higher security choose a shredder that cuts paper into smaller particles. It only takes a few millimeters of paper width to read an important sentence on a page. Make sure you are aware of your legal requirements to protect employee, customer or other data.

Here is a guide:

Choose a machine that can be repaired and has good support.

 Shredders are a mechanical devise operating under pressure and collect paper dust and other debris inside. Having them services regularly can significantly improves their working life and performance and save you money.

Environmental considerations

Many shredders are sold by office stationery stores that do not do their own repairs or carry spare parts.  This is especially true for low cost machines. This often leads to machines being replaced rather than repaired and these end up in landfill.  A more environmentally friendly approach is to buy a decent machine that has good backup support that can be repaired and have a long useful life.

One big machine versus several smaller models?

The key objective with document security is to have a shredder as close as possible to the decision to destroy the document. This sometimes means having several medium size shredders distributed around the office instead of one large central machine – where users may be reluctant to walk to. Having documents sitting in a collection bin waiting for destruction means that all sensitive documents are sitting in a known location and are a security risk until destroyed. Consider the best way to achieve document security level appropriate for your organisation.