Strip-cut Shredding vs. Cross-Cut: What’s the Difference?

The two main types of shredders in the document shredding industry are strip cut and cross-cut shredders. Here are the main differences between the two.

Perhaps you’re one of the fortunate consumers or businesses that has never had to deal with identity theft, but don’t think for a minute that it’s because of luck.  Identity protection isn’t something you want to gamble with, and the reasons go far beyond the odds being in your favor. Identity protection happens because of diligence, not serendipity. Nearly 60 million Americans have been affected by identity theft, according to a 2018 online survey by The Harris Poll. That same survey indicates nearly 15 million consumers experienced identity theft in 2017. That said, destroying old documents is part and parcel to identity protection. Shredding documents remains the best method to dispose of sensitive documents, but you may not realize that there are two main methods of shredding: cross-cut and strip-cut shredding. Both have their own merits. Here are the main differences.

Cross-cut Shredding

A cross-cut shredder, as the name suggests, cuts papers into little pieces. This type of shredding cuts not only the width but also the length, making the shreds smaller and harder to read. Cross-cut shredding offers a higher level of security when shredding corporate documents. This provides increased security and also helps with peace of mind. This is a great option for more sensitive information both at home or the workplace.

Strip-cut Shredding

Strip cut shredders are common in both homes and offices. Strip cut shredders use a single blade to destroy paper, leaving the user with many long, vertical strips of paper. The remains are the same length as the original piece of paper. Because the shredded remains are clean cut, uniform strips, they can be easily repurposed as packing material, animal bedding, or added to compost bins.

What’s Best For Your Shredding Needs?

It’s easy to purchase an in-office shredder that can do either cross-cut or strip-cut shredding, however these machines can range from several hundred dollars to the thousands—in addition to oiling and maintenance costs. In addition, commercial-grade office shredders aren’t as efficient as industrial mobile shredders and can only handle so much volume at a time. Did your employee actually shred your files properly? Did any files get missed in the process? Can your office shredder handle paper clips, staples, and thicker piles? If you aren’t 100% sure, then you may be risking a hefty fine. An in-house shredder cannot offer you a certificate of destruction, nor can it prove you’ve handled and destroyed information safely and within the confines of the law.

How can you save time and ensure that your documents are destroyed properly? Rely on shredding services. The main advantage of mobile shredding is the convenience of coming to you to shred your paper. A mobile shredding truck is equipped with an industrial shredder and can shred all of your documents in minutes versus hours.

Outsourced routine shredding saves time and money.  With professional paper shredding services, you’re also protecting the environment.  All shredded documents are later recycled into other paper products, like toilet paper and paper towels.

Establishing a shredding routine with a mobile specialist means there is no need to waste time or business revenue inefficiently dealing with paper waste. You no longer have to worry about which type of shredder you need to safely destroy your documents; the experts at Legal Shred can safely and securely dispose of the information so that it is unable to be recovered or restored. For your bottom line, that is absolutely priceless.

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