Operating Considerations

You must also have an understanding of the volume and frequency, along with the nature of the material to be shredded. Only then can you confidently decide between a strip-cut or cross-cut shredder.

The 1/4" strip-cut shredder remains the most popular type of shredder sold for several reasons. First, the relatively low tooling and manufacturing costs translate into a very attractive purchase price to the end user. Also, the limited amount of cutting being done (in comparison to a cross-cut shredder) results in a greater cutting capacity (sheets per pass). However, the commercial cross-cut is rapidly becoming the shredder of preference for business use, in spite of its higher price tag.

Two hidden benefits inherent to all cross-cut shredders are:

A considerable reduction in the volume of shredded waste, hence a savings in bags and waste removal.
A substantial reduction of the operator time spent handling the shredded waste.
No more compacting and compressing to fit more into the bag.
Far fewer bag changes.

The double cutting action of a cross-cut produces a rectangular shred particle which drops freely into the waste bag and lies flat. During operation these shreds collect like falling snow. Strip-cut shreds, on the other hand, behave differently. The very same buoyant and fluffy characteristic which makes strip-cut shreds excellent for packing material will create additional work for the shredder operator.

The flat, self compressing nature of the cross-cut particle results in a bag capacity of 2 to 5 times as much. Furthermore, the cross-cut particle completely fills the waste bag without the operator ever to having to stop and compress the waste. This minimal operator handling results in a cleaner operating environment in addition to the enhanced productivity.

Comparative studies reveal that a cross-cut shredder can outperform a comparable strip-cut shredder having a greater cutting capacity. Although a greater amount of actual "shredding time' is required, the cross-cut's advantage results from far fewer bag changes and the elimination of frequent waste handling.