Confidential Document Shredding with the Lindner Micromat 2000

When you’re responsible for destroying confidential documents, security, reliability and throughput all matter.

For Russell Richardson, a leading UK specialist in secure document management, the challenge was becoming increasingly difficult.

The company was processing growing volumes of confidential paperwork containing personal, medical and financial information, but its existing shredding equipment was struggling to keep up with demand.

The solution was the Lindner Micromat 2000.

Installed in November 2015, the single-shaft industrial shredder transformed Russell Richardson’s document destruction operation, achieving an average throughput of approximately 6 tonnes per hour and an annual processing capacity of around 12,000 tonnes based on its operating schedule.

More importantly, the machine enabled the company to meet its existing requirements without the night and weekend shifts that had previously been necessary.

 

The Challenge: Increasing Demand for Secure Document Destruction

Russell Richardson & Sons operates a specialist secure document destruction service from its headquarters in Sheffield.

Its customers entrust the company with highly sensitive material, including:

• Personal information
• Medical records
• Financial information
• Business documents
• Confidential correspondence
• Office paperwork
• Sensitive files

The material arrives either loose, bundled or in files and is transported into the company’s secure document destruction process.

As customer volumes increased, the company’s existing shredders were becoming stretched beyond their practical capacity.

The business was increasingly reliant on night and weekend shifts to process the required volumes.

It needed a more powerful and efficient industrial document shredder.

 

Choosing the Lindner Micromat 2000

Russell Richardson approached Mach Tech Services, Lindner’s UK partner, to find a solution that could provide significantly greater throughput.

The Lindner Micromat 2000 was identified as a suitable machine for the application.

The expected throughput was a major factor in the decision.

The machine was specified to achieve approximately 5–8 tonnes per hour for the company’s input material.

In practice, it delivered an average of around:

6 tonnes per hour

That was considerably more capacity than all of Russell Richardson’s previous smaller shredders combined.

 

What Is the Lindner Micromat 2000?

The Lindner Micromat 2000 is a powerful single-shaft industrial shredder designed for high-throughput size reduction across a wide range of applications.

Its modular design allows the machine to be configured around different materials and required output sizes.

For paper and document destruction, the shredder can be configured with different screens to achieve the required particle size.

The Micromat is also used in applications including:

• Paper recycling
• Confidential document destruction
• Plastics recycling
• Carpet recycling
• Textile processing
• Waste wood processing
• Production waste
• Product destruction

Lindner describes the Micromat as a universal single-shaft shredder designed around high productivity, reliable operation and efficient material processing.

 

Secure Document Shredding to DIN 66399-2

One of the most important requirements for Russell Richardson was the ability to securely destroy confidential information.

The Lindner Micromat 2000 can be configured to meet the required particle sizes for different document destruction security levels.

In the Russell Richardson application, the machine was configured to comply with the requirements of DIN 66399-2 security levels 3–5.

The screen size can be selected according to the required security level.

This gives the operator control over the final shredded fraction rather than relying on a single fixed output.

 

What Is DIN 66399?

DIN 66399 is a German standard covering the secure destruction of information carriers.

It considers different types of information carriers and establishes security levels based on the sensitivity of the information and the required destruction characteristics.

For paper documents, higher security levels require smaller particles.

This is particularly important when destroying documents containing sensitive information.

The shredding machine is therefore only one part of a secure document destruction process, but having a shredder capable of producing the required particle size is fundamental.

 

Security Levels 3 to 5

The Russell Richardson Micromat 2000 application was configured around security levels 3–5.

These levels are relevant to increasingly sensitive information.

The exact particle size and classification should always be assessed against the applicable standard and the customer’s destruction requirements.

For secure document destruction companies, having the flexibility to change screen configuration allows the shredding process to be adapted to different requirements.

 

From Confidential Documents to Recycled Paper

Secure destruction doesn’t necessarily mean the material has to become waste.

Once the documents have been securely shredded, the material can enter a recycling process.

At Russell Richardson, the shredded paper is compressed into bales before being transported to a recycling company.

The material is predominantly treated in the UK as Sorted Office Waste (SOW) and can subsequently be processed into paper products such as:

• Kitchen rolls
• Toilet tissue
• Paper tissues
• Other recycled paper products

This creates an important connection between secure document destruction and the circular economy.

Confidential information is securely destroyed while the underlying paper fibre can be recovered and reused.

 

6 Tonnes Per Hour of Confidential Documents

The most impressive part of this case study is the throughput.

The Micromat 2000 achieved an average processing rate of approximately:

6 tonnes per hour

The system operates on an eight-hour shift pattern, with approximately 2,000 operating hours per year.

That equates to an annual throughput of approximately:

12,000 tonnes

based on the operating schedule reported in the original case study.

For a secure document destruction business, that level of capacity provides significant production flexibility.

 

Eliminating Night and Weekend Shifts

Before installing the Micromat 2000, Russell Richardson’s existing shredders were struggling with increasing customer demand.

The business had needed additional night and weekend shifts to keep up.

The higher throughput of the Micromat 2000 changed that.

The machine provided enough capacity to handle the company’s requirements during its normal operating schedule.

As a result, special shifts became a thing of the past.

This is an important commercial benefit.

The value of an industrial shredder isn’t simply measured by tonnes per hour.

It can also be measured by:

• Labour requirements
• Shift patterns
• Energy consumption
• Maintenance costs
• Machine availability
• Production flexibility

A higher-capacity machine can potentially allow a business to produce the same amount of material with fewer operating hours.

 

Energy Savings from One High-Capacity Shredder

Russell Richardson had previously relied on several smaller shredders.

Replacing these machines with a single high-capacity Lindner Micromat 2000 provided another significant benefit.

The company reported saving a considerable amount of energy and money compared with its previous setup, while also benefiting from substantially higher throughput.

This highlights an important consideration when comparing industrial shredders.

The cheapest machine to purchase isn’t necessarily the cheapest machine to operate.

When assessing shredding equipment, businesses should consider:

Capital cost + energy + labour + maintenance + downtime + throughput

 

Designed for High-Throughput Paper Shredding

The Micromat 2000 installed at Russell Richardson was equipped with a 132 kW motor and operated at an efficient rotor speed of approximately 265 rpm.

The combination was designed to deliver the high throughput required for the application.

The machine’s belt drive and maintenance-free safety clutch also provide protection against foreign material entering the shredder.

This is particularly important in document destruction, where incoming material may contain:

• Folders
• Files
• Clips
• Bindings
• Other foreign materials

A robust industrial shredder needs to be able to cope with the realities of the material being processed.

 

Built for Easy Maintenance

High throughput is only useful if the machine can be maintained efficiently.

The Micromat 2000 was designed with maintenance accessibility in mind.

The machine’s large maintenance flap provides access to the cutting system, allowing operators to carry out knife inspection and replacement efficiently.

The machine installed at Russell Richardson featured 104 knives, with four usable cutting edges per knife.

Each cutting edge lasted approximately 200 hours in the reported application.

The knives could therefore be turned and reused rather than immediately replaced, helping extend component life.

 

Reduced Shredder Downtime

For any industrial shredding operation, maintenance downtime represents lost production.

For a secure document destruction company processing thousands of tonnes each year, even relatively short periods of downtime can quickly add up.

The Micromat’s accessible cutting system helps make routine knife maintenance faster.

Russell Richardson reported that knives could be unlocked, turned and tightened again, while complete replacement was only required periodically.

This approach helps the operator maintain cutting performance while minimising unnecessary machine downtime.

 

Fire and Dust Protection

Paper shredding creates dust, making appropriate dust extraction and fire protection important considerations.

The Russell Richardson system included a dust collection system to help meet health and safety requirements.

The installation also incorporated a combination of spark detection and fire extinguishing technology designed to help prevent fires.

These systems form part of a wider safe-processing environment around the shredder.

For companies processing confidential documents at high volume, machine safety needs to be considered alongside shredding performance.

 

Confidential Document Shredding and Recycling

The Russell Richardson installation demonstrates how secure document destruction can become part of a wider recycling process.

The overall journey can be summarised as:

Collection → Secure Handling → Industrial Shredding → Baling → Recycling → New Paper Products

This means the value of the process isn’t limited to destroying sensitive information.

The paper itself can become a recovered resource.

That makes high-performance paper shredding machines an important part of the wider circular economy.

 

More Than a Document Shredder

Although the Russell Richardson project demonstrates the Micromat 2000’s capabilities for confidential document destruction, the machine is not limited to paper.

The Micromat platform is used across a wide variety of recycling applications.

For example, Lindner has also supplied Micromat 2000 machines for plastics recycling, where consistent output and reliable throughput are critical to downstream washing and processing systems.

Other applications include carpet, textiles and other difficult industrial materials.

This versatility comes from the Micromat’s configurable cutting system and screen options.

 

Why Choose an Industrial Document Shredder?

Businesses processing confidential information at scale have different requirements from organisations using small office shredders.

An industrial document shredder needs to provide:
High throughput

Large volumes of documents can be processed quickly.
Controlled particle size

Screens can be selected around the required security specification.
Reliable operation

The machine needs to operate for long production periods.
Easy maintenance

Routine maintenance should minimise production downtime.
Drive protection

The machine should be protected against foreign materials.
Dust and fire management

Paper processing requires appropriate consideration of dust and fire risks.

The Micromat 2000 was selected by Russell Richardson because it provided this combination of performance and flexibility.

 

The Results

The Russell Richardson case study demonstrates a clear difference between the company’s previous shredding setup and the Lindner Micromat 2000.

6 tonnes/hour

Average reported shredding performance.

12,000 tonnes/year

Approximate annual throughput based on 2,000 operating hours.

DIN 66399-2

Configured for security levels 3–5 in the reported application.

8-hour shifts

Production could be achieved without the previously required special shifts.

104 knives

With four usable cutting edges per knife.

132 kW

Motor power of the installed Micromat 2000.

The result was a more efficient document destruction operation with greater capacity, reduced energy use and improved working conditions for employees.

 

A Better Working Environment

One of the less obvious benefits of increasing shredder capacity is its impact on employees.

Before installing the Micromat 2000, the business had relied on night and weekend shifts to keep up with demand.

The increased capacity removed the need for those additional shifts.

The company’s Managing Director specifically highlighted the improvement to the working environment, with employees able to enjoy their weekends again.

It’s a good example of how investing in the right industrial machinery can deliver benefits far beyond the production line.

 

Mach Tech Services, Industrial Shredding Specialists

Mach Tech Services is the sole UK and Ireland distributor for Lindner Recyclingtech shredders.

We provide complete shredding solutions from initial consultation and application assessment through to machine selection, installation, commissioning, maintenance and ongoing engineering support.

Our services include:

• Industrial shredder installation
• Commissioning
• Preventative maintenance
• Emergency repairs
• Knife gapping
• Wear-part replacement
• Precision engineering
• Welding
• Hardfacing
• Full shredder rebuilds

We also hold more than £1 million of spare and wear parts in stock, with many parts available for same-day dispatch.

When your shredder is critical to your operation, rapid access to genuine parts can make the difference between a short interruption and extended downtime.

 

Looking for a Confidential Document Shredding Machine?

If you’re processing large volumes of confidential documents and your existing equipment is struggling to keep up, the right industrial shredder could transform your operation.

The Lindner Micromat 2000 demonstrates how increased throughput can help reduce additional shifts, improve production capacity and lower operating costs.

Mach Tech can assess your material, required security level, throughput and existing process to help identify the right shredding solution.

Talk to our team about your application.

📞 01706 838246
✉️ sales@machtechservices.com

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is confidential document shredding?

Confidential document shredding is the secure destruction of documents containing sensitive, personal, financial, medical or commercially confidential information. Industrial shredders reduce documents into small particles so the original information cannot be practically reconstructed.

What is the Lindner Micromat 2000?

The Lindner Micromat 2000 is a high-throughput single-shaft industrial shredder designed for applications including paper recycling, confidential document destruction, plastics and other waste-processing applications.

Can the Micromat 2000 shred confidential documents?

Yes. The machine has been used for high-volume secure document destruction. In the Russell Richardson application, it was configured for the requirements associated with DIN 66399-2 security levels 3–5.

How much paper can the Micromat 2000 shred?

In the Russell Richardson case study, the machine achieved an average throughput of approximately 6 tonnes per hour, with an annual throughput of around 12,000 tonnes based on approximately 2,000 operating hours.

What is DIN 66399?

DIN 66399 is a standard covering the secure destruction of information carriers, including paper documents. It defines security levels according to the sensitivity of the information and required destruction characteristics.

Can the Micromat 2000 achieve security level 5 shredding?

The Russell Richardson installation was configured to meet the requirements associated with security levels 3–5 under DIN 66399-2, using the appropriate screen configuration.

Can shredded confidential documents be recycled?

Yes. Once documents have been securely shredded, the resulting paper material can be baled and sent for recycling. In the Russell Richardson application, the material was processed as Sorted Office Waste and could subsequently be used to manufacture recycled paper products.

Is the Micromat 2000 suitable for high-volume document destruction?

Yes. The Russell Richardson installation demonstrates its ability to process approximately 6 tonnes per hour, allowing the company to handle its requirements without the special night and weekend shifts previously needed.

How often do the Micromat knives need replacing?

Knife life depends on the material, configuration and operating conditions. In the Russell Richardson application, each cutting edge lasted approximately 200 operating hours, with knives able to be turned and reused.

Does Mach Tech provide maintenance for Lindner shredders?

Yes. Mach Tech provides preventative maintenance, repairs, knife gapping, wear-part replacement, engineering and full shredder rebuilds.

Does Mach Tech stock Micromat spare parts?

Yes. Mach Tech holds more than £1 million of spare and wear parts in stock, with many components available for same-day dispatch.