Rexel Paper Shredder Buying Guide
Everything you need to know to buy the best shredder for your home or office.
Why should you buy a paper shredder?
Whether you want to dispose of personal documents at home or client information, data protection is one of the primary motivations for buying a shredder. Many people assume that GDPR only relates to electronic data, but this is not the case. GDPR rules also apply to paper-based data so it is important that organisations handle EU-originated personal data carefully.
Whether you are a business or consumer, our buying guide will help you choose the correct paper shredder to ensure you’re protected against identity theft and other fraudulent activity that can be carried out if your sensitive data gets into the wrong hands. Take a look at some of the ways investing in a Rexel paper shredder could protect you at home or work:
Paper shredders can:
- Protect your personal and business confidential data
- Protect the data of your customers and clients
- Help you avoid fines and legal action due to non-compliance with GDPR legislation
- Help you evade a data breach which could result in bad PR and reputation damage
What can you shred?
Whilst many assume that shredders only shred paper, many models can take on stapled and paperclipped documents, as well as CDs, cards and floppy discs.
Paper shredders for businesses
Investing in an office paper shredder gives you, as a company owner, the peace of mind that you are destroying sensitive data and personal information in the correct way, abiding by legislations.
Documents that many organisations shred daily include:
- Client information
- Pricing information
- Sales figures
- Personnel or employee records
- Accounts payable/receivable information
Questions to ask before buying a paper shredder
With a wide variety of models available, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to paper shredding. Before you settle on a paper shredder make sure you consider the questions and information below to ensure you make the correct decision.
What level of security do I need from a shredder?
Before considering cut type, you should carefully consider what level of security you would like from a shredder. All Rexel paper shredders are categorised by their security level which is shown as a P-rating; this refers to the number of pieces a document is shredded into. The higher the P-rating the more pieces a document is shredded into and the higher the level of security it provides.
Should I purchase a manual or Auto Feed paper shredder?
Opting for an auto feed or manual shredder will depend on a number of factors, including how quickly you want your shredding completed and whether you would prefer to be more hands-on. Generally speaking, the higher sheet capacity shredders allow for quicker shredding, but read the information below to ensure you make the correct choice.
Auto Feed shredders
Shredders that offer auto feed shredding allow stacks of paper to be shred in one go, rather than having to be fed in individually. We call this ‘hands free’ shredding, meaning you can load a stack of paper and walk away. Our Rexel Auto Feed paper shredders offer a 98% time saving over manual feed models and, over a period of time, generate real productivity savings.
Auto Feed Shredding
See how easy it is to shred stacks of paper with patented Auto Feed technology.
Automatic shredders to suit every workplace
The Optimum AutoFeed+ range offers smaller machines for your home office or small office needs, up to large shredders for frequent bulk shredding requirements in large workplaces.
Single load capacity: 45 - 100 sheets
Models: 45X, 50X, 90X, 100X and 100M
Compact design ideal for smaller spaces such as under a desk or for easy storage.
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Automatically shred up to 100 sheets in one go
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High security P-4 cross cut (X) or P-5 micro cut (M)
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Generous bin capacities up to 34L (250x A4 sheets)
Single load capacity: 130 - 150 sheets
Models: 130X, 130M, 140X, 140M, 150X and 150M
Shred the contents of a large ring binder in one load!
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Automatically shred up to 150 sheets in one go
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High security P-4 cross cut (X) or P-5 micro cut (M)
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Up to 44L bin capacity (500x A4 sheets)
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Up to 30 minutes continuous run time
Single load capacity: 225 - 300 sheets
Models: 225X, 225M, 300X and 300M
Ideal for frequent use in a shared workplaces.
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Automatically shred up to 300 sheets in one go
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High security P-4 cross cut (X) or P-5 micro cut (M)
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Generous bin capacities up to 60L (700x A4 sheets)
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The 300X and 300M feature a 4-digit PIN lockable chamber for added security
Single load capacity: 600 - 750 sheets
Models: 600X, 600M, 750X and 750M
These large shredders are ideal for frequent bulk shredder in offices with multiple users.
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Automatically shred up to 750 sheets in one go
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High security P-4 cross cut (X) or P-5 micro cut (M)
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140L large bin capacity (1100x A4 sheets)
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4-digit PIN lockable paper chamber for added security
Manual feed shredders
Whilst manual feed shredders require human intervention to feed documents into the machines, however they can still shred a high volume of sheets in one go. Manual feed shredders also use the latest anti-jam technology to ensure seamless uninterrupted shredding when coupled with long run times.
What size shredder do I need?
If a shredder is going to be used frequently, it is going to be shredding more paper especially if you opt for a higher sheet capacity model. If you know roughly how much you will be shredding, you can avoid frequent bin emptying and opt for a small cut shredder.
How big does the shredder bin need to be?
Pick a shredder bin size based upon sheets stored in the bin rather than bin size alone. Note that the higher the security level means a smaller cut size and increased bin capacity
How easy is it to maintain a paper shredder?
Just like any device with a motor, paper shredders require care and maintenance. An easy way to prolong the life of your shredder is to shred a shredder oiling sheet. These preserve the shredder’s motor and cutter blades.
If the shredder you purchase is for office use, some that serve larger numbers feature automatic self-oiling. This means there is no need to feed in a shredder oiling sheet; the shredder will take a drop or two of oil when needed from an oil refill bottle. Making sure your shredder is well-oiled will often eliminate any common issues such as paper jams or an increase in noise emitting from your shredder as components will be running more smoothly.
Common Paper Shredder Issues
From the basic to the most advanced, paper shredders of all shapes and sizes can fall foul of common issues.
Rexel A4 paper shredders can shred A3 documents which are folded in half – just keep an eye on the maximum number of sheets that can be shred at once as a folded piece of A3 is equal to two sheets of A4.
If you will be regularly shredding A3 documents or will need to shred A3 documents en masse, you should consider one of our manual feed wide entry shredders.
Shredder oil sheets
The easiest way to oil your shredder is to shred a Rexel oil sheet.