The MBM Corporation is one of the leading dealers of paper shredders, paper cutters, trimmers, folding machines, booklet makers and collators in the USA. Established in 1936, MBM continues to be an office equipment powerhouse and a favorite of ABC Office customers.

MBM is currently headquartered in historical Charleston, South Carolina. They currently produce the Destroyit line of shredders along with the popular line of Triumph and Kutrimmer paper cutters. MBM’s parent company is IDEAL Krug & Priester of Germany.

MBM currently has an intricate network of dealers both locally and online. We at ABC Office have been selling MBM office equipment for several decades. One reason MBM is so popular is the build quality. There is something about the German engineered and built equipment that seems to stand the test of time.

One of MBM’s most popular lines of office products is their Destroyit line of paper shredders. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times government (federal & local), military and other businesses request Destroyit paper shredders by name. This is because Destroyit shredders get the job done. They feature high quality cutting blades and the ability to hold up to daily use for years upon years without breaking down.

You can view our entire selection of MBM office products here:

• MBM Destroyit Paper Shredders
• MBM Triumph Paper Cutters
• MBM Kutrimmer Paper Trimmers
• MBM Business Card Cutters
• MBM Paper Folding Machines
• MBM Booklet Makers
• MBM Collators
• MBM Paper Drills
• MBM Paper Joggers

We are an authorized dealer of MBM office products, which means our Service Department is able to offer you parts, servicing and repair work on any MBM model. You can request parts and servicing by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129 or by filling out this form.

While shopping around for a high-quality office paper shredder you may have come across the term continuous duty. Do you know what that means? If not, you may want to familiarize yourself with its meaning. I will explain exactly what the term “continuous duty paper shredder” means in this article.

If you have ever used a basic paper shredder, you may have discovered that they can only run for about 30 minutes before they have to be turned off. Many shredders have an automatic switch that turns the shredder off after a certain amount of use. This is because these shredders use motors that overheat with too much use.

While a basic paper shredder, with a cool-down period, is fine for home use, this is a huge inconvenience for office use. Most businesses and offices need a shredder that can be run throughout the day without any downtime.

As a result of frustration, and the development of shredding technology, a new type of shredder has arisen for use in the office. This is the continuous-duty paper shredder. Continuous-duty shredders are designed to be used continuously throughout the day without the need to cool down.

Continuous duty shredders implement the use of thermally protected motors that keep the motors from overheating. This feature is now very common in most modern-day departmental and office paper shredders.

Most shredders will specify in their features if they offer continuous-duty functionality. If you have come across a shredder, and aren’t sure if it can be run continuously, feel free to call one of our shredder experts at 1-800-658-8788. They will be able to let you know in a few seconds if the shredder you are looking at is ideal for continuous use.

You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

One of the most monotonous things about shredding paper is sitting near the machine and feeding it sheets upon sheets of paper. The entire process, for a stack of 100 sheets, can take 2-10 minutes, depending on the shredder. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just leave the paper at the shredder and let it do the rest? Such a shredder exists. It is called the Formax FD 8500AF AutoFeed paper shredder. This is my review.

Formax currently manufactures about a dozen different paper shredders. Models range from strip cut shredders to high-end high security paper shredders. Formax shredders easily make the top 5 shredder brands we currently offer online.

The FD 8500AF is a fairly unique paper shredder. This is because it has what’s known as an AutoFeed function. A slot, located on the top of the machine, can be opened up allowing you to insert up to 175 sheets of 11” x 17” paper (20# thick). This slot then pulls a sheet of the stack and shreds it. The FD 8500AF will continue pulling in paper until it is done shredding the stack.

This saves the operator a lot of time, especially throughout the day. Simply put, the FD 8500AF doesn’t need babysitting to get the job done. When watching it in action, the AutoFeed looks remarkably similar to a printer, folding machine or copier. You can see a video demonstration of the 8500AF here:

Formax FD 8500AF AutoFeed Shredder Video Demonstration

You don’t have to run the Formax FD 8500 in AutoFeeder mode. It also has a traditional slot on the front of the shredder where you can manually insert paper. The manual slot can shred up to 18 sheets of 20# paper at a time.

The Formax FD 8500AF is a Level 3 cross cut shredder. That means it can be used to shred most sensitive documents. The particle size measures in at 5/32″ x 1 1/5″ in size. The high-quality shredder blades are not only capable of shredding paper, but can also handle staples, paper clips and credit cards.

The FD 8500AF is a centralized office shredder. This means it can be situated within a department for use by several different people throughout the day. It is robust and durable enough to be used continuously without any need for a cool-down period.

The control panel on this shredder is very easy to use and easy to read. It lets you know if the door is open, the bag is full, if it is running in reverse and much more. It even includes a load indicator that lets you know how much stress the shredder is under at any given time.

I really like this shredder. The quality is where it needs to be and it is from one of the most reputable manufacturers we carry. The AutoFeed is a huge time saver. I give this shredder high marks. Just about everything on this shredder is made out of metal. It is an excellent machine.

You can find the Formax FD 8500AF AutoFeed paper shredder here and our entire selection of Formax paper shredders here. You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Do you need a paper shredder that’s more robust than a deskside shredder that can be used on a departmental level? If so, you may want to consider a centralized shredder like the MBM Destroyit 2503 paper shredder. This is my review.

MBM Destroyit (by IDEAL) makes some of the most reputable and best recognized office paper shredders today. These shredders are engineered and build in Germany. To date, Destroyit makes over 20 different models of shredders. This doesn’t include the strip cut, cross cut and high security variations.

The Model 2503 has been categorized by Destroyit as a centralized office shredder. This means it is designed to be placed in a centralized location for use by multiple people. This also means the 2503 has a continuous-duty motor that can be used throughout the day without needing to cool down.

While capacity is always nice to have in a shredder, speed is also very important. The Destroyit 2503 is fast. This shredder takes your paper and shreds it in just seconds. This is a stark difference from other shredders that seem to chug along while trying to shred paper. Speed is ideal for an office environment and is great when you are shredding a lot of material.

The Destroyit 2503 is available as a strip cut and two different cross cut variations. The Level 2 strip cut shreds about 19-21 sheets, the Level 3 cross cut shreds about 12-14 sheets and the Level 4 cross cut shreds about 8-10 sheets of 20# paper at a time. The higher the security level, the smaller the particle size. The smaller the particle size, the lower the capacity typically is.

While most paper shredders are designed to accept paper up to letter-size, the 2503 has a large 10 ¼” opening. This makes it easy to shred envelopes, letter-size paper, jumbled paper and much more. It is extremely easy to use.

One of my favorite features is the user interface. The newly-designed interface is about as simple and useful as they come. The rocker-style button lights up green when on (making it easy to see the shredder is on) and can be tilted back for reverse mode. Several LED indicators let you know when the back is full, door is open and much more.

The cutting blades on the Destroyit 2503 are made from high quality steel. These blades are nice, designed to handle paper for years and can easily handle staples, paper clips and credit cards. The strip cut and Level 3 cross cut versions of this shredder can even handle CDs and DVDs.

The 26 gallon shred bin holds a lot of paper. This means fewer bag changes for you. Because this shredder has a cabinet door design and a pullout bag frame, bag changes are extremely easy. Casters also make this shredder easy to move around.

I have to say that few shredders compare to the 2503 in an office environment. This shredder is excellent and well worth the price. This shredder will outlast other cheaper shredders by 2-3 times longer or more. It simply has an excellent rack record.

You can find the MBM Destroyit 2503 paper shredder here and our entire selection of paper shredders here.

If you are looking for a great all-around small office paper shredder, you should take a long and serious look at the MBM Destroyit 2360 paper shredder. This paper shredder has developed a great reputation among our customers. This is my review.

To begin with, the MBM Destroyit 2360 (by IDEAL) is available in several different versions. This includes a strip cut, a cross cut and a high security super micro cut version (SMC). All three of these shredders are equally comparable in quality with the biggest difference being the cut style and the sheet capacity. These shredders are German designed and German made.

Destroyit recently implemented a new design to their line of paper shredders that I find extremely creative and customer friendly. The got rid of all the separate buttons you often find in shredders and added a simple rocker button.

This button allows you to turn on the shredder, turn off the shredder and put the shredder into reverse. This same rocker button also includes several indicator lights that will let you know when the shredder is full, the door is open and more.

The Destroyit 2360 has a large 9-¼ gallon waste bin. This size of bin holds a lot of paper and makes bag changes less frequent. This is especially nice for a deskside paper shredder.

Unlike many department store style shredders that can easily overheat, the Destroyit 2360 utilizes a durable thermally protected motor that allows this shredder to run continuously throughout the day. The single-phase motor is very quiet compared to other similar shredders. This is especially nice for an office environment.

The Destroyit 2360 uses specially hardened steel cutting shafts that allow this shredder to accept staples, paper clips and credit cards. These hardened blades also allow the 2360 to operate at a high rate of speed. Almost as soon as you feed this shredder paper, it has finished the job.

Many people have concerns over the safety of a shredder. The 2360 uses an SPS (Safety Protection System) package. This includes an electronically controlled transparent safety shield. This shield is located in the opening of the shredder. If this shield is lifted open, it will turn the shredder off. This shield also has just enough clearance to allow the maximum amount of paper to be fed through.

Overall I consider the Destroyit 2360 to be a solid deskside paper shredder for just about any office. It looks good, is built well and is ideal for shredding throughout the day. It should easily last for several years.

You can find the MBM Destroyit 2360 paper shredder here and our entire selection of Destroyit paper shredders here. You will find our entire selection of paper shredders here.

Keeping your personal information safe, secure and inaccessible is critical to protecting your identity. One great way to help cut down on identity theft is by using a paper shredder. Unfortunately many paper shredders out there aren’t up to the task. One reliable shredder that you may want to consider using is the MBM Destroyit 2403 paper shredder. This is my review.

Destroyit (by IDEAL) continues to be one of the leading paper shredder manufacturers around. These German engineered and German made shredders are known for lasting years to even decades. MBM Destroyit shredders come in a variety of sizes, depending on where they will be used and how many people will use them.

The Destroyit 2403 is definitely an office shredder, although it can be used at home. It is available in both a strip cut (Security Level 2) and a cross cut (Security Level 4) version, depending on your preference and desired shredder security level. The strip cut can shred more paper at once, but the cross cut shreds paper into tinier pieces.

Destroyit has really refined the user controls for shredders. The 2403, as with most Destroyit shredders, utilizes a rocker control for shredder operation. The button tilts forward to turn it on and off. When on, the button is green. It tilts back to but the shredder into reverse mode, turning the switch red.

A series of lights let you know if the shredder is full or if door is open. It even features a load indicator that will stop the shredder if too much paper is fed in and will back the paper back out. This helps to prevent paper jams.

One thing you will probably notice when you use the 2403 is how fast it is. Unlike many cheap department store shredders, the Destroyit 2403 shreds paper in just seconds. It is gone almost as fast as you can feed it in. This is ideal for shredding large amounts of paper.

The Destroyit 2403 is not only fast, but it is also extremely safe to use. It implements what is called the Safety Protection System (SPS) package. This includes a transparent safety shield that prevents accidental shredding and personal injury.

The blades on the 2403 are tough. Both the strip cut and cross cut versions use high-quality hardened steel blades. These blades allow the 2403 to easily handle staples, paper clips and credit cards. The strip cut version can even shred CDs.

The 2403 can easily be placed next to a desk or along a wall for use by multiple people. The motor is thermally protected, allowing it to be continually used without a cool down period. As is the case with all Destroyit shredders, the 2403 is quieter than your average shredder.

I highly recommend this shredder for use in the office. It is dependable, reliable and extremely effective at shredding paper. I give this shredder a solid 5 out of 5 stars. You won’t be disappointed.

You can find the MBM Destroyit 2403 paper shredder here and our entire selection of Destroyit paper shredders here.

Do you still have questions? Speak with one of our paper shredder specialists by calling 1-800-658-8788.

In the unlikely event that this shredder needs repairs, we have a highly trained Service Department that can fix and repair the Destroyit 2403. You can reach them by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129.

Finding the right paper shredder is a pretty big deal, especially when you need a reliable model that can be used to destroy your most sensitive information. The only problem with shopping around for a good paper shredder is finding the right brand. I’ll be honest; a lot of the shredders out there are garbage. They may look pretty, with their plastic molded shells, but ultimately it’s what inside that counts.

I have personal experience with dozens of different makes, models and brands of shredders. Some shredders are remarkable feats of engineering genius, where others are little more than glorified garbage cans. Others are unable to run for more than 30 minutes without overheating, while even more sound like lawn mowers.

To help assist those of you who are shopping around, I have come up with a list of what I consider to be the top 5 best paper shredder brands available today.

Top 5 Best Paper Shredder Brands

1. Destroyit – MBM Destroyit paper shredders (by IDEAL) are some of the best shredders around. They are designed and made in Germany. The cutting blades are some of the best around and these shredders are some of the easiest to use. These are perfect for continuous use in the office. There isn’t enough space in this article for me to write all the good things I have to say about Destroyit.
2. Formax – Formax shredders are relatively new when compared to some of the other brands out there, but the build quality on these machines is excellent. Having sold these shredders for the last 5 or so years, our customers are always happy with what they receive. Formax makes some of the best office shredders around.
3. Dahle – Sure they make paper cutters and folding machines, but they also make some excellent paper shredders too. Dahle paper shredders come in strip cut, cross cut and even high security models. Most Dahle shredders are German engineered and German made.
4. HSM – HSM shredders are made from high quality components and are designed from the ground up to be safe and durable. HSM shredders range in size from deskside shredders to high-end commercial shredders.
5. Intimus – Intimus, now owned by Martin Yale, still manufactures some of the best paper shredders available. This includes cross cut, strip cut, CD and high security designs. Intimus has been around for years and continues to make high-quality machines.

These shredders and manufacturers have demonstrated over the years that their paper shredders have what it takes to keep your information secure. I feel confident that you will not be disappointed in any of these paper shredder brands.

You can find our entire selection of paper shredders here. Feel free to speak with one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788 for answers to any of your paper shredder questions.

If you’re in the market for a paper shredder, but would also like to have the ability to shred credit cards, you may be wondering where to start. While many shredders are capable of shredding credit cards, not all have the capability. Shredding credit cards on a non-capable shredder can cause catastrophic jams. Here are a few tips that should get you on the right path.

To begin with, fraud is a continuous battle that we all have to deal with. An improperly discarded credit card can be a one-way ticket to a huge headache. It is recommended to properly dispose of credit cards once they expire or are no longer needed.

While some people simply cut credit cards up with a pair of scissors, this isn’t 100 percent effective, and if done improperly, data can still be read and accessed. It is recommended to shred unneeded credit cards.

Shredders provide an even, uniform and effective way of destroying credit cards. Most modern-day strip cut shredders are capable of shredding credit cards. This because strip cut shredders have fewer moving parts and require less force to shred.

If you are shredding a credit card on a strip cut shredder, feed the card into the shredder at an angle. This will decrease the chance of the credit card numbers making it through unscathed. I personally like to inspect the shredded strips after shredding a credit card to make sure the shredder did the job.

Strip cut shredders are usually fine for shredding credit cards, but if you want to be 100% sure your credit card can’t be read, use a cross cut shredder. Cross cut shredders leave no room for doubt as they effectively shred credit cards in a crisscross pattern.

Not all cross cut shredders can shred credit cards, however, most modern-day office shredders can. Paper shredder product pages should mention that they can shred credit cards. If they don’t mention the ability to shred credit cards, assume they can’t.

Shredding a credit card in an incapable cross cut shredder will more often than not result in a jam. Prying 30 mil plastic strips out of a cross cut shredder is no fun. Worst-case scenario, this can result in gear or motor damage.

You can find our entire selection of both strip cut and cross cut paper shredders here. Remember, our shredders will indicate they can shred credit cards if they are so capable. Feel free to contact one of our paper shredder specialists at 1-800-658-8788 if you need assistance tracking down a credit card shredder.

One of the most common issues with paper shredders is the feared paper jam. This almost always occurs when someone feeds too much paper into a shredder. Typically the motor becomes overwhelmed and simply stops. While these jams can often be cleared out by simply pulling back on the paper, this will not help the most severe shredder jams. Here are a few tips that should help you out.

ALWAYS unplug the shredder when trying to clear out a paper jam! You don’t want to injure yourself. Remember, shredders use sharp jagged metal to cut paper. You don’t want to hurt yourself.

If your shredder has jammed, do not keep trying to run it. This may cause damage to the motor, gears and other components.

Fixing A Jammed Paper Shredder

1. My first bit of advice is to unplug the shredder, remove the shredder head and try removing the paper from underneath the shredder. The underside of a shredder head provides the easiest access to the blades. Many shredder jams are the result of paper winding around shredder blades, causing the shredder to stop. You can often clear out jammed shredder manually from the blades. A screwdriver can often be used to fish out paper particles. Be careful not to cause further damage to the shredder blades with the screwdriver.
2. If you are unable to manually remove paper from the jammed shredder, I recommend pouring shredder oil along the width of the shredder throat and waiting 15-30 minutes for the oil to soften the paper. This will often allow the jammed paper to pass through.
3. If your shredder jam is the result of shredding a CD or a credit card, I recommend using needle-nose pliers to try and remove the jammed plastic particles from below the shredder. Pliers are often able to remove plastic particles far easier than by hand.
4. Check to see if your shredder has a reverse switch. While this isn’t a common feature, many shredders have a reverse switch. This will often back out the jammed paper, making it easy to remove, thus remedying the situation.

Worst Case Scenario

If you are still unable to clear the jam, you may need to have the shredder serviced.  We have a Service Department that should be able to at least offer advice, ship replacement parts and if needed, repair it.  If the gears are broken, chain is stripped or shredder blades are irreversibly damaged, our Service Department is still often able to repair the shredder.

You can reach our Service Department by filling out this form or by calling 1-800-658-8788 x129.

If your shredder is ruined, or will cost more to repair than the shredder’s value, you can find our entire selection of new paper shredders here.

As you probably already know, strip cut shredders cut paper into tiny strips of paper and cross cut shredders cut paper into tiny particles of paper. While it may be as simple as placing paper in a machine and pressing a button, there is a lot going on under the hood. There is a lot of sophistication in your shredder’s blade. I’ll go into more detail.

To begin with, a strip cut paper shredder blade is far less sophisticated than a cross cut shredder blade. This should come as no surprise as much less cutting is involved. Strip cut paper shredder blades usually consist of a few perforated or sharpened wheels that sit across a shaft. A lot of strip cut shredders have pretty flimsy cutting blades.

A cross cut shredder blade involves a lot tougher, heavier-duty and thicker cutting blade. There are a lot more moving parts in a cross cut shredder head than there are in a strip cut shredder head. Cross cut shredder heads, in my opinion, are far tougher than strip cut shredder heads.

Today I grabbed a digital camera to show you the visual difference between a strip cut and a cross cut shredder head. My back is now covered in shredded paper (from laying down), but I think it is worth the sacrifice. These pictures are taken from the underside of the shredder head.

The first picture I am showing you is the shredder head of a Rexel 1250 S2 strip cut paper shredder.

This second picture is of the shredder head on a Destroyit 2604 CC.

Do you notice the difference in sophistication between the two shredders? Pretty neat.

Strip cut shredders rarely need to be oiled. There just aren’t as many moving parts as there are in a cross cut shredder blade. A cross cut shredder has a lot of moving parts and involves a lot of friction. I personally recommend oiling a cross cut shredder every time you empty the bag. This should help the cross cut shredder last for years. You can find our shredder oil here.

Is your shredder head damaged, nicked, dull or in desperate need of repair? Contact our Service Department. They are often able to find you replacement parts for Destroyit, Martin Yale, Intimus, Rexel, Kobra, HSM, Fellowes, Olympia, Dahle, Formax and many other brands of shredders. Our Service Department can even swap out old shredder blades and replace them with new blades, giving your shredder a new lease on life.

We also offer a huge selection of brand new paper shredders from reputable brands. If a shredder is junk, we simply won’t include it on our site. You can find our entire line of new paper shredders here. Questions? Call our experts at 1-800-658-8788.