depending on such factors as the level of humidity where you live

The Formax FD 8500CC is a formidable
machine that offers busy offices FACTA-compliant shredding and great
capacity. Here are a few of the strengths and weaknesses of the FD
8500CC.

1. The FD 8500CC offers you and your
   business Level 3 cross cut security shredding, meaning that it complies
   with recent federal regulations that were passed to combat consumer
   fraud and ID theft. According to these laws, any business that handles
   confidential personal, health, and/or financial information must
   properly destroy these types of documents when throwing them away.
   Shredding them at a security level of 3 is the best and easiest way to
   comply with these regulations, and it's important to note that failure
   to do so may result in big fines and/or opens your business up to the
   possibility of a civil suit.
2. The FD 8500CC is a
   pretty powerful shredder with a specially geared motor that is
   purported to operate at 33 feet per minute and to give you the ability
   to shred 18 sheets per pass. We didn't have any problems with the
   machine operating at (or very close to) the stated capacity, but your
   mileage may vary (as it were), depending on such factors as the level
   of humidity where you live, the quality of your electrical system, and
   the thickness of the paper stock that you are shredding. The cutting
   blades are heat treated solid steel (and under lifetime warranty), and
   dealt with paper clips and staples with no problems whatsoever. We also
   liked the extra wide 16 inch paper feed which gives you the ability to
   not only shred the most common paper sizes, but can fit larger custom
   sheets as well.
3. We like a machine that is easy
   to use and the FD 8500CC really shines in that regard. Even the
   neophytes among us found this machine, with its LED control panel, as
   easy as pie to operate. Of special note are the optical sensor enabled
   automatic start/stop function (that allows for "walk away" use), and
   the manual button for lighter materials that the sensors might not pick
   up on.
4. Shredder maintenance is not rocket
   science, but it is something that every shredder needs and that all
   users should be aware of. The FD 8500CC makes it simple with a special
   indicator light that lets you know when the cutting heads need oiling,
   and Formax even offers an optional add-on oiling system to make it even
   easier. There is also an automatic cleaning mode wherein you can put
   the motor into reverse to clear the blades of paper particles that
   collect over time.
5. The FD 8500CC also has some
   great safety features, such as automatic power cutoff when the bin door
   is open, or when the waste box needs emptying. It also has a circuit
   breaker to keep electrical issues at bay and an automatic reverse mode
   when the machine senses a paper jam.

Weaknesses:

1. 
   At 242 pounds, the FD 8500CC is a fairly weighty machine. Though it
   does come on casters for easy moving about the office, you will need a
   few people to help get it to its destination when it is shipped.
2. 
   Though the FD 8500CC has thermal protection to keep from the motor from
   overheating, you will probably want to make sure that you stay within
   the limits of the motor, as you would with any shredder.