Intimus 402 1/8" Strip Cut Whisper Quiet Shredder

Staff Review

Intimus 402 1/8″ Strip Cut Whisper Quiet Shredder Review

The 402 Strip Cut shredder is another example of quality craftsmanship from Intimus.  The smaller design with great capacity make it perfect for smaller to medium offices.  Automatic features make this device very simple to operate, even for the most inexperienced user.  A powerful, quiet motor drives strong blades that quickly slice through all your documents.  Let’s take a closer look at the 402.

Strengths:

• Operation is made simple with a microprocessor controlled electronics system.  As you slide documents into the shredder, it automatically turns on and starts shredding.  Once you’ve finished, the device stops automatically, keeping the motor from running needlessly.  An LED panel indicates if the bag is full, there is a paper jam, or the door is open.  This display allows the user to immediately diagnose any issues that may arise and quickly resolve them without wasting precious time.
• A powerful continuous duty motor offers constant shredding.  Unlike many smaller shredders, this one doesn’t require a cool down period after a short time of heavy use.  The engine is also designed for super quiet operation.  This gives you a hushed shredding experience, not the annoying whine that usually accompanies shredder use.
• The convenient front loading 9.5 inch feed easily handles up to 19 sheets at once, including staples and paperclips.  The heavy duty blades slice documents at a respectable 20 feet per minute.  Even a large shredding stack is swiftly devoured, letting you quickly get back to work.
• The narrow strips fall into a sizable shred bag, holding up to 1.5 cubic feet of waste.  This is an ideal size for a good amount of shred storage while still being manageable to empty.

Weaknesses

• The 1/8 inch strips offer a level 2 security rating.  This is adequate for keeping safe generic office documents, such as memos and work orders.  However, for the secure disposal of personal data or other sensitive material, a higher security cross cut version of this model would be better.
• The 9.5 inch opening can be limiting.  While standard size items effortlessly slide into the feed, if you try to insert a small stack that isn’t straightened, diagonal items can cause a jam.  By upgrading to a model with a wider opening, you can save time by not only shredding items vertically but also by not needing to straighten documents.
• The blades only handle up to 19 sheets at once.  This is great for smaller offices needing moderate use, especially considering the rate they’re sliced.  Even so, larger offices with higher shredding volumes will want a model with higher capacity.

Small to medium offices will greatly benefit from investing in an Intimus 402 Strip Cut shredder.  Low risk items are rapidly torn to pieces by strong blades powered by a quiet motor.  Automatic features offer simple operation for any user.  A clear display keeps you aware of your machine’s status.  We think the 402 Strip Cut is an excellent choice for your next low security office shredder.