5 Things to Consider Before Building a Disintegrator System

June 18, 2015 at 10:28 am by SEM

If you are in need of a central information destruction solution that can shred high volumes of paper or mixed media, a disintegrator may be the answer. As the inventor of the disintegrator over 45 years ago, SEM has the proven expertise to determine which system is right for you.

The following are some steps to consider when determining which system is most appropriate.

1. SECURITY AND MATERIAL

This is the most important factor. It is important to know what type of material and the particle size required by your security team. NSA requires a 3/32” security screen for the destruction of classified paper and optical media. For unclassified information or material, a larger particle may be acceptable, just check with your security manager.

2. VOLUME/CAPACITY:

Disintegrators come in all sizes. The volume of material you will be destroying helps determine what size is right for you. There are two things needed to be determined. How many pounds of material will be destroyed on a weekly basis and how many working hours per day would you like to run the unit.

3. WASTE COLLECTION:

Disintegrators offer a few options for waste collection. The proper fan system is mostly dependent on the information in the prior two steps. With low to average volume disintegrators, standard single or dual bag fan systems are common. Large outside air collection systems or Briquettors may be needed for higher volume applications. SEM DISINTEGRATOR OPTIONS

4. ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:

There are a variety of additional options that are available for disintegrator systems. These include sound reduction enclosures, conveyors, master control panels, Spare knives and security screens. An experienced SEM representative can help you choose the best options.

 

5. FACILITY SPACE AND 3-PHASE POWER AVAILABILITY:

Once a targeted system has been identified you must be sure your facility has a room with adequate space and 3-phase electrical power available to run the equipment. Layout drawings may be required depending on the disintegrator system.

SEM not only invented the disintegrator, we have been installing and supporting them since 1967. From installations in virtually every US Embassy throughout the world to locations throughout the USA, our team can work with you to create the most effective solution at the most economical price. Worried about the price? Look into building your centralized destruction system piece by piece over time instead. 

How to Plan for a Disintegrator Installation

December 11, 2014 at 9:51 am by SEM

Disintegrators are powerful destruction units that will require some attention and planning for installation compared to normal small shredding devices. When considering purchasing a SEM disintegrator we will be there every step of the way to ensure that all conditions are being met. That being said, here are some things that you’ll want to consider ahead of time:

LOCATION: Where the system is to be deployed is important and should normally be in a 1st floor warehouse type environment with ample space, wide door access, and a loading dock. The smallest systems will require a minimum of 11’ x 11’ with an 8’ 4” ceiling. SEM can provide a disintegerator floor plan drawing on request.

Make sure you have a minimum of three feet around the system to allow for easy access and future maintenance of the equipment. Positioning near the loading dock with dumpsters or compactors will make disposal of the waste bags much easier. In larger systems where an outside waste system is deployed as shown here, the location of the system close to the outside collection is important. Wall coring and the potentially pouring of concrete pads outside to mount filters and air system support stands may also be required for larger systems.

POWER: The facility must have access to 3-phase power (460V, 208V
or 230V / 60Hz) with proper amperage to power the equipment. The
breaker box to be located within 10 feet of where the equipment will
be installed.

NOISE: Remember, disintegrators are industrial pieces of equipment. They are loud. You will need to determine the impact on employees in close proximity to the equipment. Consider operating the equipment during non-business hours or purchase a SEM sound enclosure that will dramatically reduce noise levels.

DUST: Because disintegrators cut the paper to such a small particle, it is inevitable that some dust will be created, so make sure that your space is suitable for this. With advanced evacuation/filter systems, briquettors and sound enclosures, much of the dust can be captured. However, when bags are emptied some of it is bound to escape. There is no such thing as a dust-proof disintegrator!

WHEN TO INSTALL: Disintegrators can take anywhere from two to five days to install. How will installation and temporary disruption effect your operation? It’s important to plan ahead.

OPERATOR TRAINING: Think through how you intend to use the machine. Will you have dedicated operators who are responsible for feeding and maintaining the machine, or will you expect to give the key to whoever needs to shred, even though they may have never used a disintegrator before? If your answer is the latter, I would suggest you reconsider, or make sure there is some form of supervision/training for your new users.

What Should I Expect At Time of Installation?

  1. In most cases you will be required to receive, store and protect the equipment until the installation team arrives. Storing it in the installation space and out of the weather is ideal.
  2. Make sure installation space is clean and power disconnects are in and ready.
  3. Have a fork truck capable of moving equipment into the install site and aerial-lift if necessary.
  4. You will need to have your licensed electrician present during the installation for electrical connections as well as interconnecting wiring and material.
  5. You should have a dumpster close by so the install team can deposit the crating materials and waste from the install to keep the site clean.
  6. Make sure you have an adequate amount of paper; at least a few hundred pounds to train your staff and test the equipment.
  7. Once the installation and testing are complete, the training of your staff on the operation and daily maintenance will be done. An installation manual for your equipment will be provided.

What You Should Expect From A Qualified Installer:

  1. The installer should supply a Workers Protection Plan. The plan will designate a competent person responsible for all facets of the installation. The plan will provide details of the vendor’s safety program. This will include items like work rules, safety training, and accident reporting.
  2. The installer will indicate whether they are ISO14001 compliant and provide a copy of their Environmental Management System (EMS) Manual.
  3. The installer should supply mechanical and electrical drawings illustrating how their equipment will fit into the space required.
  4. The installer will provide proof of Liability Insurance with at least $1,000,000.00 in coverage.
  5. Sustainability is important

Scheduled routine preventative maintenance on your disintegrator is highly recommended and will also help keep the disintegrator running well, protect your warranty, and with regular service will also help to reduce dust and noise levels. Learn more here.

Hopefully, this guide will help you know what to expect so you can get prepared and have a very smooth disintegrator installation, and you will be up and shredding in no time! For more information contact us at any time and we can guide you through the whole process. After all, we did make the worlds very first disintegrator!

6 Questions to Find the Right Disintegrator for You

December 21, 2010 at 11:13 am by SEM

Disintegrators can seem complex and confusing at first glance. These large metal machines break down materials to a tiny particle size and that in itself can make an operator nervous. However, once you know a little bit about these machines you learn they’re not complex at all.

1012-disintegrator
SEM Model 1012 Disintegrator

Disintegrators have been around for a very long time destroying many different types of items; from common paper and plastics to specialized machines capable of destroying electronic components, and currency. These machines can be small office disintegrators or very large systems that need a dedicated room to be set up and run. Disintegrators can destroy a wide variety of different materials, which conventional paper shredders cannot.

Here’s the secret: disintegrators operate like a giant pair of scissors cutting the material over and over again until it is small enough to go through the security screen. These security screens can be easily changed by the user to generate a larger or smaller particle at will, allowing different security mandates to be followed and met. The waste is then evacuated out of the unit and can be put into a bag, dumpster, compactor, or even made in to environmentally friendly briquettes for recycling.

Paper disintegrators come in many shapes and sizes, but there is a formula that will ensure you get the right size unit for your job. SEM calls it the Simple Six.

1. First, you need to figure out your volume of destruction, and add a little to the number to compensate for growth. This can be determined by daily volume or monthly volume. Disintegrators are sized based on the pounds per hour of destruction that you want to achieve, so this volume needs to be translated into pounds.

nsa-listed-paper-shredder

2. Once you have this number, you will need to decide how many hours a day or week you want to operate the machine. For example, if you have 2,400 lbs. per week to destroy, and you want to operate it only two hours a week, you will need a disintegrator that is capable of at least 1,200 lbs. per hour. If you want to run it for two hours a day for two days a week you will need a unit that is capable of 600 lbs. per hour.

3. Now you will need to decide what particle size will meet your needs or requirements. The 3/32” particle that is mandated by the NSA for classified, CUI, and top secret information is the smallest particle, but be aware that the smaller the particle the slower the machine will work because the material has to stay in the destruction chamber longer to get to that particle size.

4. The next decision is: how do you want to collect the material? In a bag, send it outside to a dumpster or compactor, or make it into eco-friendly briquettes?

SEM Green Central Destruction System

5. Where do you want to operate the machine? These are industrial pieces of equipment and would not be a good fit in a typical office environment. You will need to check the disintegrator dimensions to see if you have the room to accommodate the size machine you are looking for.

6. What kind of power is available in your chosen space? Most disintegrators operate on 3-phase power and will support either 460V/208V or 230V/3-ph/60Hz power. Important- this must be verified prior to ordering-a mistake in the power can be costly to fix once at site.

The answer to these simple questions will easily lead you to the right disintegrator for exactly what you want to accomplish. If you still have questions or need additional consultation, start a chat with us here in the help window or fill out a data destruction questionnaire.