There are so many different brands and types of shredders out there, with so many different features that finding just the right one for your needs can be a bit daunting. If you are looking for a shredder that can stand up to medium or heavy use, there are a number of choices on the market. One of the machines that we have looked at recently is the Fellowes C-220Ci. It is one of the newer machines in the Fellowes line, and contains some pretty remarkable features. Let's take a closer look at this machine and some of its pros and cons.
Pros:
Not everyone knows the capacity of their office shredder, and often times, users will try to stuff more into the shredder than it can handle. The C-220Ci has what Fellowes calls a Jam Proof System. This system electronically measures the thickness of the papers that are attempting to be fed into the machine. The device will not allow motor function if the stack is too thick for the machine to handle (we tried it-it works). Also the function allowed the machine to power through papers that we intentionally misfed into the machine. Pretty impressive.
Most people don't realize that in order to function properly, a shredder has to be oiled on occasion. The C-220Ci comes with its own self-oiling system, and it can let you know when the oil canister needs to be replaced. This is great for a medium to high use machine like this. It means that you won't have to remember when the shredder was last oiled, and will need to be oiled again. It also means that your shredder will always run at 100% capacity.
We found this shredder to be remarkably quiet - nearly silent in fact. Which is a very good thing in a busy office that will be using the shredder a lot.
Safety is always an issue with shredders, and the C-220Ci has a safety feature that we found pretty unique. Called SafeSense, it detects body heat near the paper opening and immediately stops the motor. Fellowes is the only manufacturer on the market with a feature like that, and we were pretty impressed with it.
It must be said that Fellowes is making some of the most aesthetically pleasing shredders on the market. We found its black and gray look to be modern, sleek, and attractive. Its design also makes this shredder easy to use.
Cons:
Although a lot of Fellowes machines come with their "Turbo Jam Release," the C-220Ci does not. Even though it has the jam preventer, we wish it had the release as well.
The SafeSense is a pretty remarkable feature, but we were wondering if it worked on say, a necktie. It does not. Fellowes owes us a tie.
Features-wise it would be hard to beat the C-220Ci. In addition to paper, it safely shreds CDs and DVDs, staples and paper clips. If you need a moderate to heavy use machine that safely and silently cross cuts your sensitive documents, this is a machine that we can recommend without hesitation. We should have mentioned that we also love the three year warranty, and the lifetime warranty on the cutting blades. It looks like Fellowes has faith in the C-220Ci as well.
