Destroying Dog Tags/ID Tags Requires a Tough Shredder

April 12, 2021 at 3:33 pm by SEM

With the announcement by the Army that they will stop putting social security numbers (SSNs) on dog tags, the question comes up – how can we get rid of the older ones that have SSNs on them?

Shredders are optimized to destroy specific materials, like paper, optical media, or rotational hard drives. Metal items, especially in large quantities, were never part of shredders initial design. Metals put significant strain on the cutters in a shredder, and are highly abrasive. The hardness of metals also means high stress on the drive mechanisms that turn the cutters, since they lack the flexibility of paper or the fracturing quality of plastics.

Modern paper shredders typically use rubber belts and plastic gears as a drive system. Paired with sensors and electronic controls, they are reliable and cost effective for paper document and optical media shredders. For metal items, like dog tags, metal credit cards, and license plates, something much more rugged is called for.

Very few office shredders are appropriate for dog tag shredding, which is why  SEM has introduced the IDShred product line. These three machines, which consist of the Model 0201, DS-400, and 1012/5 Disintegrator, offer three different solutions for destroying IDs with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) like dog tags, licenses, credit cards, CAC IDs, and more.

Here’s the breakdown of what each of these devices in the IDShred line can destroy:

SEM Model 0201: Plastic CAC IDs, licenses, credit cards, and badges at a low volume in an office space.

SEM Model 0201

SEM Model DS-400 Disintegrator: CAC IDs, licenses, plastic and metal credit cards, badges and dog tags at low volume for an office space or open area.

SEM Model DS-400 Mixed Media Disintegrator

SEM Model 1012/5 Disintegrator: CAC IDs, licenses, plastic and metal credit cards, badges and dog tags at a high volume for larger environments.

1012-disintegrator
SEM Model 1012 Disintegrator

Shredding these items is doable in an office environment, you just need the right machine. Reach out today to learn more with our online information/quote request!

Security Engineered Machinery Introduces Shredder Specifically for Credit/ID Cards and Dog Tags

July 15, 2019 at 6:14 pm by Heidi White

IDShred65 addresses growing need for efficient and effective destruction of cards and dog tags that contain personally identifiable information (PII)

dog-tag-shredder

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, is pleased to announce the introduction of the IDShred65 ID and dog tag shredder. This device is specifically designed for the destruction of plastic and metal credit cards, dog tags, and ID cards such as CAC IDs and driver’s licenses.

“The IDShred65 was created to address a growing need to destroy cards and dog tags in both the commercial and federal markets,” said Nicholas Cakounes, SEM Executive Vice President. “Unlike competitor models, SEM’s IDShred65 easily destroys the heavier, thicker credit cards of today including metal cards.”

The all new IDShred65 is enclosed in a compact metal cabinet mounted on casters for portability and ease of use in office environments. It also boasts a rugged, all steel cutting head that is specifically designed for the efficient destruction of thick metal cards and tags. Designed with operator ease of use in mind, the IDShred65 has a customized feed slot for cards and tags, a modern, sleek design, and plugs into a standard 120V outlet. It also comes standard with integrated safety and convenience features including an LED control panel with auto start/stop and reverse and bag full and door open indicators. In addition, the IDShred65 is an eco-friendly product, featuring an Energy Savings Mode that shuts off power when not in use and operating without the use of oil.

“We are thrilled to offer the IDShred65 to satisfy the rapidly growing need for on prem destruction of dog tags and cards, both metal and plastic,” added Bryan Cunic, SEM Director of Customer Care. “SEM has long been an innovator of high security information destruction technology and the new IDShred65 continues that tradition of excellence.”

The IDShred65 has a list price of $5,999 and is TAA compliant. For more information, click here.