Demystifying the Process:
How Industrial Shredding Machines Handle Different Materials

Protecting personally identifiable information (PII) is essential for maintaining the privacy and security of clients, customers, employees, and businesses. Not only does this protect individuals from identity theft and fraud, but it also ensures compliance with privacy regulations such as HIPAA, FACTA, and other federal and state laws. These regulations don’t just require organizations to safeguard information during its use, but also mandate that the information be destroyed at the end of its life cycle—ensuring it cannot be read, retrieved, or misused.

What many people don’t realize is that valuable information can be found in many forms beyond just paper. Identity thieves are aware of this, and they look for all types of materials containing sensitive data. Some of these materials include:

• Paper Documents: Bank statements, credit card records, travel itineraries, boarding passes, medical records, mailing labels, and more.
• Books and Binders: Old passports, photo albums, portfolios, wills, deeds, student records, magazines, etc.
• Containers: Pill bottles with labels, shipping containers.
• Electronics: Cell phones, iPads, hard drives, thumb drives, laptops, computers.

The Importance of Information Destruction

Destroying information goes far beyond shredding paper. In today’s world, sensitive data exists in numerous forms and on many different types of materials. Ensuring all of this is properly destroyed requires specialized equipment capable of handling diverse materials. Let’s explore how industrial shredding machines manage different items, from paper documents to hard drives and pill bottles.

1. Paper Shredding

Most people are familiar with small home or office paper shredders, which can destroy a few sheets at a time. However, these personal machines are no match for the volume of paper that businesses accumulate. In the U.S. alone, it’s estimated that 12.1 trillion sheets of paper are used annually, and securely destroying such large quantities requires heavy-duty solutions.

• Industrial Office Shredders: For businesses that handle high volumes of paper, industrial-grade office shredders are a must. These machines can handle up to 50 sheets at once, making them ideal for offices that need to shred in bulk. Unlike smaller machines, industrial shredders are built to be both powerful and efficient, with low maintenance needs and large shredding capacities. They also fit seamlessly into office spaces, offering a cost-effective and secure solution for document destruction.
• High-Security Shredding: For organizations that deal with highly confidential information, such as law firms or healthcare providers, high-security shredding is essential. Cross-cut shredders are an excellent choice, as they use stacked cutters to shred documents into tiny pieces, making it nearly impossible to reassemble or extract any data. These machines can also handle CDs, DVDs, and other media, further ensuring data is irrecoverable.
• Particle-Cut Shredders: For added security, particle-cut shredders take cross-cut shredding to the next level by reducing paper to extremely small particles. These machines are highly efficient, requiring minimal labor to operate, and are perfect for businesses that need to ensure their shredded materials are as secure as possible.
• High-Capacity Shredders: Some organizations, like large corporations or government agencies, need to shred massive amounts of paper and documents. High-capacity shredders are built for these demands, offering the ability to destroy large volumes quickly and with minimal labor. These machines often come equipped with extra-wide input conveyors, crusher paddles, and powerful motors, making them perfect for fast-paced environments.
• Book and Core Shredders: Shredding paper is one thing, but what about thick books or hardcovers? That’s where book shredders come in. These specialized machines can handle the destruction of thick, bound volumes, ensuring even bulkier materials are reduced to unreadable scraps. Additionally, core shredders are specifically designed to destroy bulky cores, tubes, and even cardboard boxes, which are often difficult to manage with regular shredders.

2. Mixed Media Shredding

Businesses often need to destroy more than just paper. Information is stored on various media, including hard drives, plastic containers, and metal components. Fortunately, industrial shredders are built to handle a wide range of materials, making them versatile enough to destroy everything from paper to electronics.

• Rugged Office Shredders: For businesses that need to destroy not just paper but also other media such as microfiche, CDs, DVDs, or storage devices, rugged office shredders are the answer. These machines offer the power and versatility to handle mixed media, ensuring that all data, no matter its format, is properly destroyed.
• High-Capacity Mixed Media Shredders: These machines can handle larger volumes of mixed media, including paper, file folders, plastics, and even certain metals. With the option to add auto-feed equipment, these shredders can operate with minimal labor, increasing productivity and reducing costs for businesses that need to process a lot of sensitive material at once.

3. Specialized Shredding Solutions

Sometimes, businesses need shredding solutions for highly specific materials, such as hard drives or plastic bottles. Fortunately, specialized industrial shredders can be tailored to meet these needs.

• Grinders: Industrial grinders provide a high level of security by grinding down materials such as binders, digital media, plastics, and more into small, unrecognizable pieces. These machines are ideal for businesses looking for a simple, “dump-and-run” method to destroy a variety of materials at once.
• Hard Drive Shredders: Destroying hard drives and other electronics requires heavy-duty machines designed to render these devices unreadable. Hard drive shredders can destroy laptops, cell phones, and other electronic devices while also allowing for the recovery of valuable metals contained within these items. This ensures both data security and the opportunity to recycle precious materials.
• Pill Bottle Shredders: Each year, around 165 billion plastic pill bottles end up in oceans, waterways, and landfills. Many of these bottles still contain labels with personal information. Shredders designed to handle pill bottles not only destroy the plastic but also protect personal information from being misused. These machines are often equipped with dual cutting heads, making them capable of handling both e-scrap and pill bottles.

For over 50 years, Allegheny Shredders has been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing industrial shredding machines that cater to a variety of industries. Whether your business needs to destroy paper, mixed media, or specialized materials like hard drives or pill bottles, Allegheny Shredders has the solution. Our machines are built to last, and we provide parts and service to ensure your shredders continue performing at their best.

Get the right industrial shredder for your business today by calling us at 724-468-4300 or by completing the form on this page.