I have several paper shredders for my Houston insurance and mortgage business. Each is a different model and so far I like the Royal 160 MX the best.

This shredder is rated for a maximum of 16 pages at one time. My other Royal shredder is a 12 sheet model and the 160MX is significantly more powerful and quieter.

This shredder is a crosscut model. That means it cuts strips and then further cuts the strip into small pieces. This increases security and helps make the waste more compact. For any use where security is important crosscut or diamond cut is superior to strip cut.

Other features include the ability to cut CD’s and credit cards. Staples are not a problem and go right through. It has an auto start/stop feature and a large waste basket. The model is heavy at about 32 pounds but there are casters so it is not too hard to move. The bucket holds 28 liters. There is a LED message center that tells the status (ready, shredding, etc.). That feature is not much value to me; it seems more like a selling gimmick than a useful feature.

I paid $130 delivered from an internet supply company for my Royal 160MX. This is a very good price to value compared to the other shredders I have bought. It may be more than you need for home use, or too small for a very large business. I find it to be a good fit for an insurance agency, or similar size business.

Having used several shredders I have some suggestions if you are getting this type of machine:

Employees will be more likely to destroy unneeded documents if they have their own shredder (As compared to having a single larger unit at a central location).

Check employees waste baskets to make sure that shredding policy is being followed.

Get a large sheet capacity unit. They are less likely to jam, work faster, and generally last longer.

Get a large waste basket capacity so it won’t need to be emptied as often.

Crosscut units are superior to strip cut models for security.

Use oil on the waste paper frequently if the machines instructions suggest that.

As an update, after about one year of service the machine needs to be replaced. The motor has been loosing power for the last two months. Now it can only handle about 4 sheets at once. I have probably put about a case of paper through the machine per month. For home use I am sure it would last longer. For medium to heavy use you may want to get a more heavy duty machine.

Lamb Insurance Agency, (Farmers Insurance) Auto, Home, Life, and Business Insurance for Texas – Houston Auto Insurance or Houston Farmers Insurance

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Whether you are an individual or a business, one thing is vital in ensuring your sensitive details are kept safe: shred them! Identity fraud is now an established and growing criminal activity. Intact or poorly disposed of documents and data can easily be stolen during burglaries, found in domestic bins or on public dump sites, and used almost instantly without you even knowing someone else knows your personal information.

Household Shredding

Many homes and offices now have their own shredders. This is effective to a degree but not 100% effective or safe. This is partly because the cheapest and most popular shredders “strip cut” documents, which is the least secure type of shredding.

Shredded documents are often put straight into a bin. The shreds can easily be retrieved and, contrary to popular belief, painstakingly restored. This is made easier if the shreds don’t run perpendicular to the text.

Professional Shredding

Many people prefer to use professional shredders because they provide a very secure service, and for businesses, there is much less office noise and dust.

Instead of using strip cut shredders, professionals will use a variety of very effective shredders such as cross-cut shredders, which use two rotating cutters to create confetti-like shreds, or micro-cut shredders, which shreds paper into particles so small that the shreds are almost like dust.

On-Site or Off-Site?

There are two types of professional shredding services: off-site and on-site.

Off-site shredding is where the sensitive items are delivered to a shredding facility where the work is carried out. Most professional shredding companies provide a good service, but off-site is not the most secure. Documents and other materials may change hands a few times before reaching the shredding facility, which poses a security risk. Also, once the material has been picked up, where is the guarantee that it will be shredded satisfactorily?

On-site shredding offers the most secure service. Shredding trucks visit homes or businesses, collect the material from special lockable bins, and destroy it on the premises. Patrons can actually see their personal data being destroyed, and are immediately issued with a certificate confirming shredding.

Professional shredding companies also contribute to the environment by recycling all shredded materials.

What to Shred?

It’s not just paper that can be shredded and recycled. Governments and law enforcement advise that anything with a signature should be shredded, also old cards or passports, approved credit card applications, legal documents, bills and statements.

Industrial shredders can shred almost anything that can be used for identity fraud, not just paper documents. Anything from CDs, DVDs, hard drives, credit cards, uniforms, magnetic media, video tapes, and faulty goods should be considered potential ammunition for identity fraudsters.

Legal Requirements

Responsible businesses are diligent about what information they keep. Sensitive information such as personnel files, financial records, product proposals, legal documents and contracts, should be made as secure as possible to prevent identity fraud, humiliation, potential loss of customers, and industrial espionage.

Some businesses have been sued for breach of confidentiality after sensitive information was stolen and used for criminal purposes. Hence, Data Protection Acts around the world are regularly being tightened up to ensure that personal and business information that is no longer required must be destroyed.

Harry Young works for Toltech Internet Solutions and writes on behalf of On Site Shredding LTD – Scotland’s premier mobile on site document shredding company. Offering a wide range of shredding services including documents, CDs, DVDs, hard drives, credit cards, magnetic media, video tapes.

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Ativa paper shredders brand are owned by Tred Shredders which markets and sells its products through an array of channels that include office supply stores, retail stores, catalogs, direct mail, Internet, direct sales to companies as well as collaborations as joint ventures for business abroad.

Ativa shredders primarily come in four different models that shred papers in two shapes – diamond-cut or cross- cut.

The diamond-cut shredding is considered to be more secure over the conventional cross-cut style. Further, the Ativa paper shredders can be categorized into two classes based on purpose of use:

1. Heavy-duty paper shredders 2. Medium paper shredders Pros of Ativa Medium Duty Paper Shredders The relatively economical Ativa paper shredders work well for home offices and have the following distinct advantages over others: • They feed on paper easily and are also compatible with staples and credit cards. • The scraps can be viewed in the see-through wastebasket. • They are more secure owing to the diamond-cut patterns. • Their cycle time prevents the risk of overheating. • They include overload protection, manual reverse and auto start/stop in their features. Cons of Ativa Medium Duty Paper Shredders Carrying distinct advantages over other brand machines, Ativa paper shredders do suffer from the following: • They have a tendency for occasional paper jams. • Customers have reported some units that got conked out within the first nine months • These shredders also have overheating problems despite the short cycle times. • Some machines were noticed to have bent blades while shredding credit cards. Pros of Ativa Heavy Duty Paper Shredders The inexpensive Ativa heavy-duty paper machines are ideal for small offices and have the following advantages: • They are large but affordable and can shred paper, CDS, credit cards and staples. • They have large wastebaskets. • Their cycle time prevents overheating. • They feature overload protection, manual reverse and auto start/stop. • They come with 7 years limited manufacturer’s warranty. Cons of Ativa Heavy Duty Paper Shredders The Ativa heavy-duty paper shredders have two notable disadvantages: • They are quite loud machines. • After the shredding, the jagged edges of CDs in the wastebasket have been known to tear the plastic and some cases reported damage within the first nine months (but these were exceptions). The Quirks The users of Ativa medium-duty paper shredders get irritated when they see the junk in the see-through wastebaskets. Although some users like it because it helps them to appropriately empty the wastebaskets. The medium-duty shredders are so easy-to-use that a child can use them and get injured.

One user of Ativa heavy-duty paper shredder was reported to the cops by his neighbors as he was making such a racket using the machine in his garage office at night.

To sum up, the Ativa range of medium duty paper shredders are appropriate for personal or home office use; on the other hand, the heavy-duty variety work well in small offices.

For more detailed reviews of Ativa paper shredders visit Paper Shredder Reviews.

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Today, paper shredders are a common piece of office and home office equipment. What used to be a piece of office equipment primarily used for military and government agencies, has now trickled down into the small business industry, and is almost necessary for the day to day functions in any office. The privacy concerns of today were almost infeasible eighty years ago when the first model for paper shredders was patented. However, increased government regulations and growing awareness of privacy issues leads many homeowners and business owners with no alternative. When looking for a paper shredder to fit your needs, it is important to know the different types and capabilities, as well as the various security levels, to ensure an appropriate purchase.

The sale of paper shredders in the United States closely correlates to some major government scandals and key privacy legislation. For example, the Watergate Scandal and the Iran-Contra affair both played key roles in a market boost. The Privacy Act of 1974, The Ecology Movement of the 90s, and the HIPAA of 1996 also boosted paper shredder sales in the United States. Today, paper shredders are seeing a major jump in sales due to increased national awareness of identity theft. Current attempts and legislative efforts are placing identity theft and privacy concerns at the forefront of every citizen’s mind and encourage businesses to do their fair share in alleviating these concerns.

The military and government agencies have recognized the need of high security paper shredders for decades. Although this equipment was primarily used for government functions in the early stages of development, today commercial businesses account for two thirds of the paper shredder market. Corporations and small businesses are finding that paper shredders satisfy government standards and company policies. Shredders are not only used to protect the companies from outside privacy invaders, but are also used to protect them from the overwhelming prospects of industrial espionage. This year, it is estimated that industrial espionage will account for over $60 billion in losses.

All businesses are bound by several government regulations that are enacted to help protect individuals from the misuse of their private information. These regulations manifest themselves in the form of HIPAA, which protects medical information, and many identity theft standards. HIPAA ensures the proper destruction and privacy protections of medical records and identifying information attached to it. These are national standards to protect the privacy of personal health information. Additionally, the government and business policies have implemented standards to help keep personally identifying information private. This ensures that financial information will remain confidential, as well as social security numbers. Banking documents, loan information, credit card transactions, and much more are destroyed by paper shredders based on this standard of privacy.

There are many different makes and models of paper shredders. However, they can be categorized as strip-cut or cross-cut models. Depending on the type of shredding needed and the security level needed, these models can provide the privacy needed. The strip-cut models are the most common, but least secure. These paper shredders cut the documents into various sized strips, depending on the settings. The cross-cut models have separate shredding capabilities and cut documents into small particles. The cross-cut model is more secure and even has security levels and features amongst the various shredders.

The type of privacy needed and level of security necessary to ensure the proper destruction of a document are key factors when deciding to purchase an appropriate paper shredder. The growing awareness of privacy concerns and the increased government standards create a great need for a paper shredder in any office or business.

Andy West is a writer for iShopShredders.com which offers wide selection of paper shredders and other business products.

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