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What’s the best office shredder for Unclassified/commercial use?

June 27, 2018 at 10:42 am by SEM

The F65 might sound like some next gen state of the art jet fighter, but what the F65 lacks in maneuverability and take-off speed it more than makes up for in HUGE shredding capacity for an office-sized shredder.

If you have a target rich environment (have a lot to shred), then this is our vote for best office shredder for non-class environments. It can shred up to 65 sheets of paper at a time to DIN Level P-4, as well as credit cards, CD/DVDs/BDs and will also accept paper clips and staples. Normally to get that kind of sheet capacity, you would have to move up to a larger, more expensive central system requiring 3-phase power. The F65 operates on 115-120V/15Amp power and requires no special outlets, so you can use it anywhere.

The F65 is a cousin of our very successful 1201CC NSA listed shredder that happens to be the only high security shredder on the market that does not require oiling. The 1201CC and F65 share the oil-free feature saving you money buying oil and preventing oil stained carpets for the life of the machine. Because of the innovative design and construction of the shredder mechanism, your F65 will never need oil — or jet fuel!

This shredder also offers several highly advanced features such as the waste compression fan press to optimize waste storage so you have to change fewer bags, LED panel with auto start/stop and reverse, bag full/door open indicators with auto stop, capacity control illumination bar to help prevent over feeding the machine, safety protection system (includes top access and e-STOP button), energy saving mode that shuts off power when not in use, rugged metal cabinet with casters for easy relocation/mobility, and TAA compliance.

So, if you need a shredder that can deliver a payload of shredding capacity that will inflict maximum damage to your backlog, the F65 will ensure your mission is accomplished!

Check it out.

How many paper shredders do you need?

at 10:40 am by SEM

Some guidelines to help you decide.

Paper shredders range in size from low volume desk-side office models, to departmental shredders consisting of medium and heavy-duty shredders, upwards to larger centralized industrial-sized bulk volume shredders.

Paper shredders range in security levels too, from NSA regulated DIN 66399 P-7 paper shredders for classified information and CUI to Unclassified and commercial shredders considered P-4 and P-5 cross-cut models or just simply protecting your own Privacy Act materials for business use. So, how many shredders do you need? Will a large centralized unit or a smaller number of departmental or office shredders make more sense to your organization’s destruction requirements, security needs, and budget?

When choosing a paper shredder, you must first consider your security requirement. What level or particle size shredder is going to meet that requirement? Next you must consider your volume. What shredder is going to offer the sheet capacity, bin capacity, and motor size to meet the demands of your destruction requirements? How much shredding will you need to do either daily, weekly, or monthly to handle your organization’s destruction requirements? Will you be better suited doing volume shredding daily, weekly, or monthly? Or would your organization be better off shredding as needs arise, placing shredders in hallways and copier/mailrooms?

Using a centralized paper shredder can provide advantages to any destruction program. Volume of paper: having the ability to destroy greater volumes of paper in a shorter period of time. This would allow your organization more time to save or store these materials prior to destroying them. Utilizing one or a select few to collect the materials and operate the shredder: A centralized shredder can also reduce overall labor, preventative maintenance costs, and waste collection.

Departmental and office shredder models could be a greater convenience and allow for immediate destruction. There would be less accountability for collecting and storing documents as workers would have easy access for destroying their own sensitive materials by utilizing a paper shredder placed in their work area. Multiple shredders might mean more preventative maintenance, plastic bags, lubrication oil, and waste collection. It might also eliminate the need for secure storage containers as workers would shred as materials as needed.

There are several advantages and disadvantages for having a centralized shredder versus multiple shredder units placed within a facility. These mostly depend on what your budget, volume of materials, security level, and requirements dictate. SEM has over 50 years of experience in the information destruction solutions business and this is where our expertise can help you decide which shredder solution would be most beneficial to your organization.

NSA 1-Hour Durability Rating: What It Means and Why You Should Care

at 10:33 am by SEM

In 2003, the National Security Agency (NSA) added durability testing to all shredders being considered for their cross-cut shredder Evaluated Products List (EPL). Before machines are tested, vendors are required to submit information on the maximum number of sheets per feed that a new model can handle continuously for an hour. The NSA then collates the estimated amount of paper into sets and feeds the shredder without a break for an hour. They only stop briefly to change bags or oil the machine as required. If the machine fails (for example, overheating), the shredder does not pass the test. Standard 20 lb. copier paper is used for the testing. Every model listed on the EPL passed this same testing procedure. So how does that help you as a high security shredder user? Let’s take an actual example.

One vendor has a mid range model listed in their literature as being able to take 13 sheets per feed. But when we look at the durability test rating, we see that it was fed 7 sheets per feed and shredded 15 reams (7,500 sheets) of paper in an hour. Here is what experience tells us: if the model is rated at 7 sheets per feed for an hour, it will likely only take a sheet or two more before it jams. So what happened to the 13 sheets per feed in the sales literature? That rating is probably based on a lighter and maybe even smaller paper than what the NSA uses in their testing. The bottom line is that the durability test results are the best barometer of how a high security shredder actually performs under pressure and represent the practical limits of operation.

So when you go to purchase a new NSA listed shredder, make sure you include the NSA durability test rating in the purchase request specifications. If anyone quotes a different model as an equal, you can easily verify by reviewing the EPL. If you rely on the sheets per feed rating from sales literature, you will likely be disappointed. The NSA instituted this policy to improve the equipment being used in the classified community. Take advantage of their testing and use it to get the best shredder for your needs.

Deciding on Maintenance for Disintegrators?

June 11, 2018 at 4:02 pm by SEM

Knife mill disintegrators are an SEM specialty. The go to machine for high volume, high security destruction. They offer great throughput while meeting NSA standards for a variety of materials, including paper, key tape, and CDs.

One of the main reasons that disintegrators are one of the go to machines is because of their amazing life span. SEM disintegrators are still being serviced that have been in active use for over 30 years. With such dramatic durability and reliability, it can be forgotten that disintegrators require periodic maintenance.

What Needs to be Maintained?

While the plate steel of a disintegrator won’t show wear, many active components will. Over time, the cutting knives will get dull and chipped. The rubber drive belts will wear. The particle sizing screen can wear out or form over-sized holes. Safety limit switches can move out of position or wear out. Hoses and filters can reach end of life.

This may sound like a lot, but the physical force required for these blades to constantly break down material to its NSA mandated final particle size is substantial. If these wear and tear issues are not addressed, the result can be reduced throughput, increased likelihood of jams, more noise and dust, off-sized end particles, reduced safety, and unexpected or premature failure of the system.

How to Maintain

A complete preventive maintenance (PM) service for a disintegrator addresses all of these concerns and more. Done at appropriate times, PM service is a wise and important part of disintegrator upkeep. Typically the frequency of PM service is tied to the condition of the knives, which are the most regular component that wears down. The rate of knife wear depends on the volume and type of materials fed to the machine. If a fairly large amount of metallic items go through a disintegrator, the knife wear will be more rapid than if the materials have little to no metal. However, even paper and plastics will cause knives to lose their edge over time. SEM recommends service after roughly every 100-150 hours of running time, however this is only a rough guideline. A technician can provide good feedback on how worn knives are, allowing users to adjust to a sensible frequency of PM services.

Most SEM disintegrator users who keep up with their PM will have in the range of 1 to 6 PM services per year, based on a range of light usage through heavy production usage.

Most commonly, SEM disintegrator owners have SEM or an authorized SEM service partner provide the PM service. That insures a reliable PM service by a highly experienced technician. A complete breakout of what is included in an SEM provided PM service can be seen here.

Some SEM disintegrator users do their own preventive maintenance services, sometimes using SEM for only off-site knife sharpening. Manuals and service training videos are available from SEM. Contact us or visit us at www.semshred.com and we can provide you with the information you need.

A Simple Guide to OCONUS Voltages

June 8, 2018 at 10:06 am by SEM

While most of us know that OCONUS stands for Outside the Continental United States, we sometimes do not consider that the electrical items which work in the United States do not work internationally. The most common question asked when ordering a paper shredder for an OCONUS base is, “can the paper shredder work overseas?” The simple answer is yes, but there are a couple of factors that must be considered to fully answer the question.

As most international countries operate on a completely different voltage system than we do here in the United States, voltage is the first factor to consider. Most all of today’s paper shredders come in either a 110/120V or 220/230V single phase version, and most all will operate within one of these two voltage ranges. For example, European countries commonly run on the 220V/230V version as compared to the United States which operates on the 110/120V version.

The second factor to consider is the frequency or cycle of the voltage; most commonly recognized as Hz or hertz. This mainly refers to the speed cycle of the electrical current. Most European countries run on 50 Hz. The United States runs on 60 Hz. It is very important to determine the correct cycle of your voltage, or your equipment will not function properly.

Common international voltage within Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, is 220/230V 50 Hz. Countries such as Korea, Okinawa, South America, and most US Territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico, run on 110/120V 60 Hz. While mainland Japan runs on 100V, Japan operates on either 50Hz or 60Hz cycles depending on your location. Most northern territories in Japan and areas around Tokyo run on a 50Hz instead of a 60Hz cycle. An excellent high security shredder for Japan is the SEM Model 1201CC. This dual frequency model is uniquely designed to run at both the 50Hz and 60Hz cycles. It is designed to operate at the lower 100V range, and is manufactured in either the 110/120V or 220/230V versions as well. Dual frequency models can assist if your FOB (Forward Operating Base) is running off temporary generator power and you plan to switch to an in country voltage source later where the cycle changes.

Another common question asked is “can the shredder run on dual voltage?” The answer again is yes, but these units are generally more expensive that standard single voltage units. You should always consider where the shredder will be placed in operation. If mainly utilized in an office environment, then the operating voltage within your facility will likely suffice. If you plan on deploying your shredder to multiple locations, then dual voltage units should be considered. Step up or step down transformers can be utilized, but note these will only convert the voltage and not the cycle or Hz.

A good resource guide is Voltage Valet. It also provides references to plug types. Simply find your country location, and click on the country for both voltage and common plug types. It is often easy to think that an adaptor plug will modify electricity. Adaptor plugs DO NOT convert electricity; they only modify foreign outlets. Some international areas have uncommon voltages, and may operate on a combination of both voltage and cycle outside the norm. This is why you should always double check your existing in country voltage or check with your building or facility manager to be certain.

Considering the lengthy delivery times often involved when shipping an item to an OCONUS base through a Defense Depot, it is important to ensure the shredder will work when it is received. Never hesitate to contact us if you have questions regarding OCONUS orders!

The Myths about Magnetic Field Sensors

June 4, 2018 at 3:55 pm by SEM

Most degausser manufacturers offer some type of magnetic field sensor. They are designed to measure the internal magnetic field strength of a degausser. These sensors give the end user a measurement that indicates the strength of the magnetic field. If the strength is low, the sensor may prompt the end user to contact the manufacturer. Although these devices are handy, for those degaussers that are used to delete highly sensitive information in High Security Government Agencies (i.e. US Military) and appear on the National Security Agency (NSA) Evaluated Products List (EPL), the NSA indicates that “customers that acquire these products should have them re-tested periodically”. A re-testing through the use of a re-certification where data is actually erased and then analyzed to determine if it is recoverable is certainly a more prudent method in determining the continued functionality of the system.

hard-drive-degausser — SEM EMP1000-HS Digital Interface

Many degaussers, including the SEM Model EMP1000-HS Degausser, have built-in magnetic field sensors. These sensors are reliable in most cases because they are designed specifically for that unit. There are also external magnetic field sensors which can be placed in a variety of degaussers from different manufacturers. They are usually shaped like a small hard disk or tape. When using these external sensors it is very important to read and follow the instructions carefully. In many cases special adapters are required. The instructions may have a list of several degausser models with recommended ranges that each one should fall into. These are not pass/fail readings. It is only a range recommended based on the manufacturer’s testing. If the readings do fall out of range then it may make sense to have a recertification or maintenance performed.

The true intention of these sensors are there to help the end user know that something has changed regarding the magnetic field and that it may be necessary to have a recertification or service performed. Strong marketing campaigns have touted these sensors to be more than what they are. In some cases, organizations have made policy based on the magnetic sensors. This marketing is designed so that end users become reliant on sensors ultimately leading to more frequent service on their equipment or potential upgrade opportunities.

Are magnetic sensors a good thing? Yes, they are another line of defense to tip the end user of how their degausser is performing, but the only way to truly check degausser performance is to have it recertified and follow the required testing policies of NSA or your governing organization.

For more information on SEM degaussers contact us today!

Expect the Unexpected with Corporate Identity Theft

at 10:34 am by SEM

Tragedies occur and we can not always prevent them. But imagine if we could go back in time and make decisions based on “what if”. What if the Titanic were equipped with more life boats, what if we had better safety equipment in our vehicles, what if I had a means to protect my corporation and employees against identity theft?

What is identity theft? Identity theft is defined as a fraud that is committed or attempted using a person’s or company’s identifying information without their authority. While you may be more familiar with personal identity theft, corporate identity theft is on the rise. Why? Well here is just a couple reasons:

- Corporate information is easier to obtain than personal information.
- A corporation normally has a higher credit line than an individual.
- The corporation is usually not expecting it.

Check with the Secretary of State for your corporate state of residence, and I am sure you will be shocked or at the very least surprised at the number of cases of corporate identity theft being reported. If your corporate identity is stolen, the end result can be devastating both financially and to the corporation’s reputation. For some companies the damage may be too extensive to bounce back from. Consider the amount and type of information that is stored electronically and on paper statements at your office. Financial, proprietary, personal, passwords, logins, and business contacts are all at risk. Do your employees travel or work from home? If they do, they are probably utilizing a laptop or company cell phone. Electronic devices, while making it easier for the company and the employees, is at the same time creating a potential for corporate identity theft.

You have probably taken the proper precautions to safeguard your computers from phishing and hacking, however, when these electronic items are replaced, how are the old ones being disposed of? What about old paper documents that may or may not have important information on them? How many times have you jotted information down on a piece of scrap paper, a receipt, the back of an envelope and then tossed these items into the trash? The best way to be assured that discarded information, whether it is in electronic or paper form, is kept out of dishonest hands is to completely destroy it. This is best accomplished through degaussing and/or shredding the discarded items.

There are multiple machines and/or services available to handle the destruction needs of your company. It is important that you speak with someone who is knowledgeable in the field of document destruction who can insure that your corporation is getting the equipment or service, no more and no less, to meet your corporate needs. Hopefully your corporation has been lucky enough not to be a victim of identity theft, however, luck always runs out. Your corporate information is valuable and should be safeguarded.

Hard Drive Shredders – Which is right for you?

May 8, 2018 at 11:15 am by SEM

Shredding a hard drive just like a paper shredder, how can that be? That’s right, when it comes time to dispose of old hard drives that contain millions of pages of data and information, they can be shredded into strip cut pieces just like a paper shredder. The question is which hard drive shredder best meets an individuals or company’s needs?

Which Hard Drive Shredder is Best?

In order to determine which hard drive shredder is the best solution, a few things must be considered. What is the volume of drives needed to be destroyed? What is the security level required? Do we have the proper power to operate the system? Once these are answered, the search can begin.

SEM offers a variety of hard drive shredders that answer all of these questions. From a low volume, small footprint, office-like system with standard single phase power like the SEM Model 0300 to a larger, industrial size, high volume system with 3-phase power like the SEM Model 0304, SEM has a solution to meet your needs.

Prioritize Your Needs

If SECURITY is your most important priority – the smaller the better. As such, a .75” strip cut is more desirable than 1.0” or 1.5”. Model 0304 have the capabilities to produce all three strip cut sizes.

If VOLUME is more important – any of the systems with a shred size of 1.5” produce the higher volumes that range from 500 to 3500 hard drives per hour.

POWER –The Model 0300 requires standard 120V -20Amp power while the remainder of systems require 3-phase power at 208, 230 or 460V. Therefore, your facility must be able to accommodate this power.

SPACE – The 3-phase power units that can shred high volumes require enough space to accommodate the shredder and the discharge conveyor. A collection container to accept the shredded drives must also be considered. As such, the facility must have enough room to handle these configurations.

What to do With Shredder Drives

Hard drives contain a variety of precious metals such as gold, copper, aluminum, and more. Once the drives are shredded, these can be sold to recyclers who have the capability to separate the metals through a smelting process. When gold prices are up, it doesn’t take much to make these shredded drives very valuable. At the time of this report, a shredded hard drive had a value of about 50 cents per drive.

Ameri-shred shredder hdd — SEM Model 0304

SUMMARY:

If you have need to dispose of hard drives or similar items such as cell phones, blackberries, etc., an SEM hard drive shredder is a clean, simple to operate, highly effective solution. And with so many options available from SEM, there’s always one that fits your needs.

Is There a Single Machine I can get to Destroy Everything?

April 23, 2018 at 9:58 am by SEM

Look through a catalog or web site for high security information destruction devices and you’ll find so many types of machines: shredders, disintegrators, crushers, grinders, and more. Some machines handle one type of material, like just CDs and DVDs for example. Other machines destroy two or more kinds of media.

That leads to the question- “isn’t there just one machine I can get to destroy everything?” For simplicity, low cost, less use of space, this is a natural question. Even better, can’t the “everything machine” be approved for handling the highest sensitivity materials, like government classified items. Unfortunately, the miracle machine that “does it all” doesn’t exist; at least not yet. Here’s why:

Office Shredders: these machines are great for paper documents and there are high security models that are NSA approved at the highest level. But the highest security versions can’t shred anything but paper. Yes, there are combo machines that also shred paper, but the high security models are really two shredder heads in one cabinet. Even more problematic, these machines can suffer severe, costly damage if an operator accidentally feeds a CD or DVD into the paper-only feed slot.

Whitaker-destroy-it-2605 — SEM Model 244 NSA Listed Paper Shredder

Office Mixed Media Destroyers– these are small, knife mill disintegrators. They offer some useful capabilities, including three separate NSA listings (paper documents, CD, and key tape). Plus, they destroy a huge range of other items, like flash memory, thumb drives, cell phones, small tape cartridges, and lots more. Seems like a candidate for doing it all, right? Well, not quite all. Paper throughput for office disintegrators is only 5-6 sheets every 10 seconds. Even a very small high security paper shredder can beat that. These machines can’t accept heavier items, like hard drives or large tape cartridges. So, still not the answer for everything, but still very useful for many applications.

The Model 200 Mixed Media Destroyer is ideal for the destruction of a wide variety of media including cell phones, flash drives, computer backup tapes and much more.

SEM Model DS-400 Mixed Media Disintegrator

Full Sized Disintegrators– these are big, industrial style machines that use the same cutting method as office mixed media destroyers. These disintegrators are the closest we can get to an everything machine. They are a great choice for many high volume mixed media requirements. These machines can take larger items, like bulk paper documents, bound books/manuals, full tape cartridges, and more. But, they can’t destroy other things, like whole hard drives. And, they won’t fit everyone’s situation. In particular, not everyone has the right location for these machines. They are not office machines. They need an isolated location and high voltage electrical supply. They also need more training or supervision than office machines.

1012-disintegrator — SEM Model 1012 Disintegrator

The best answer to the “everything machine” question is that there isn’t a single perfect machine that can destroy all types of information bearing media at the highest security levels, let alone one that is office friendly and affordable. What to do about that? Make a careful study of the types and quantities of materials needing destruction. Determine the types and numbers of likely users. Then, select the two or three machines that can best handle the requirements for your particular needs and situation.

Need assistance narrowing down which machines you need? Contact SEM today to learn why we’re the industry leader 50 years after inventing the world’s first disintegrator.

How Much Paper Can a Shredder Really Shred?

February 27, 2018 at 10:52 am by SEM

One of the first things one might consider in specifying a paper shredder is its capacity- how many sheets can you feed at once? How quickly will it shred the paper? Together, those factors determine the overall throughput of the machine. The capacity can be stated in sheets, reams, or pounds per hour.

The capacity of paper shredders widely varies. So, one might wonder why paper shredders have the capacities that they have. Why do their capacities vary? Why don’t they have higher capacities? What are the limits?

One of the biggest factors that determines the capacity of a paper shredder is its cut size. Consider this; a strip cut shredder with 1/8″ cut will turn a standard sheet of paper into 68 strips. Now, consider a general purpose cross-cut shredder, with a common cut size of 5/32″ x 1 5/32″ (aka 4mm x 40mm). That machine will turn a sheet of paper into about 515 pieces.

Clearly, a cross-cut shredder must apply a lot more power to make the additional cuts compared to a strip cut shredder. That means that for the same size machine, a cross-cut shredder will have a lower throughput versus a strip cut version. A given motor can only supply a limited amount of power to the job. The bottom line is that the smaller the cut, the smaller the stack of paper one can feed.

One can, however, get smaller. A high security NSA listed cross-cut paper shredder gets a paper shredder particle 1mm x 5mm cut size. These shredders cut a standard sheet of paper into about 12,000 bits. This cut size requires enormously more power to accomplish versus a general purpose crosscut. These shredders require feeding even smaller stacks of paper.

Office style paper shredders have these sorts of ranges for throughput:

Strip Cut: 10 sheets to 50 sheets

General Purpose Cross-cut: 8 sheets to 45 sheets

High Security Cross-cut: 3 sheets to 12 sheets

The high ends of these ranges represent the most paper that is (so far) mechanically possible to shred using a 120 volt wall current. Because circuit sizes are typically limited to 20 amps, there is a ceiling on the maximum electrical power, and in turn a limit on the maximum capacity of these machines. Sometimes shredders are advertised with specifications that are a bit outside of this range, but the real world throughputs for regular office type paper will fall right around the levels noted above.

When shredding paper even smaller than the high security level SEM also has a solution. The SEM Model 344 is a high security cross cut shredder that cuts below the 1mm x 5mm size to a mere 0.8mm by 2.5mm cut. The capacity falls in the middle of the high security average, being rated at 8 sheets per pass by the NSA.

So what capacity are you looking for? For every security level there are a lot of options out there. If you feel like you still have questions always feel free to reach out to one of our sales representatives or contact us at the chat bubble below!

SEM Shred

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