The product page for the tabletop strip-cut cardboard shredder lists three models, PT10, PT20, and PT30. At first glance the three tables look almost identical. Same product name, same voltage and power, same speed, same cutting thickness, same motor brand, same suitable paper. The differences sit in a few rows that are easy to skim past, and those rows are what decide which model belongs on which bench.
Start with the row that matters most, cutting width. PT10 is 350mm, PT20 is 450mm, and PT30 is 550mm. Everything else in the three tables is the same, which means the width is the single variable the buyer is really choosing. That is unusual in machine selection, and it makes the decision simpler than it looks. The question is not which model is better. The question is how wide the largest common carton is.
A kartonschredder is fed with flattened board, and the board has to pass through the cutting width without being folded or turned. A carton that is 400mm wide feeds cleanly through PT20 at 450mm. The same carton through PT10 at 350mm has to be angled, folded, or cut down first, and that extra step repeats on every order. Over a shift, the difference between feeding directly and preparing the board is the difference between a smooth bench and a stop-and-start one. This is why the width row deserves more attention than the price row.
The second row worth reading closely is machine dimensions and net weight. PT10 is 490 by 293 by 290mm and around 34kg at 220V. PT20 is 593 by 293 by 290mm and around 40kg at 220V. PT30 is 690 by 293 by 290mm and around 45kg at 220V. The depth and height stay the same across the three models. Only the length grows, by about 100mm per step. That detail is practical. A bench that fits PT10 will almost certainly fit PT20 and PT30, because the machine grows sideways rather than forward. The operator does not lose reach or floor clearance when moving up a size.
The third row is the packaging dimensions and gross weight. PT10 ships in 600 by 400 by 380mm at around 36kg. PT20 ships in 730 by 450 by 460mm at around 45kg. PT30 ships in 850 by 450 by 470mm at around 50kg. Those numbers matter for two reasons. The first is delivery access. A doorway or corridor that takes the PT10 carton may not take the PT30 carton, and the access check has to use the carton size rather than the machine size. The second is handling. The gross weights are still in the range two people can move, which keeps the installation simple.
The fourth row is the voltage and power. All three models are listed at 110V 400W or 220V 400W. That consistency is useful because the electrical requirement does not change with the model. A bench that can run PT10 can run PT30 on the same outlet. The 400W figure is also a reminder that this is a tabletop machine class, not an industrial one. The machine is designed for intermittent to medium daily use, which the FAQ states directly.
The fifth row is the speed and cutting thickness. All three are listed at 10 m/min and max 10mm. That means the throughput per minute is the same across the models. The difference in daily output comes from how often the machine has to stop for a board that does not fit, not from the machine's speed. A wider model processes more cartons per hour because it feeds them directly, not because it runs faster.
The sixth row is the continuous working time, listed at 8 to 10 hours across the three models, with a ZD brand geared motor. That is a full shift at a small packing station. The row tells the buyer that the machine is not limited to short bursts, which matters for e-commerce operations with a steady daily volume.
There are also rows that appear in all three tables but are worth understanding. The drawer stop is listed as yes, which means the machine stops when the drawer opens. That is a safety feature and a maintenance convenience, because the operator can empty the drawer without reaching into a running machine. The suitable paper is listed as 3 to 5 layers, which sets the input expectation before the machine arrives.
What the tables do not show is the cut quality and the material behind it. Aircosan shafts are large, one-piece units rather than thin blades, designed for a service life of over five years and processed through lathe machining, high-frequency treatment, quenching, blackening, and multiple other steps. The material is 40Cr rather than ordinary 45# steel. 40Cr has lower brittleness and stronger impact resistance, and its machining time is more than twice that of 45#. At the same 550mm width, Aircosan shafts are visibly larger and thicker than thinner competing units and cost about 30% more, which shows in the overall machine weight. That is the part that makes the strips uniform from the first carton to the last, and it is the part a specification table can only hint at through the weight row.
Aircosan machines use overload protection, so when a jam occurs, the machine stops automatically and protects the motor. Aircosan machines have side sheet metal that fits tightly with no gaps, so paper dust cannot enter the gears and cause abnormal noise or long-term wear. Aircosan machines use a branded motor with ample power, so thick and hard cardboard feeds smoothly without repeated jamming at the inlet. Aircosan runs its own parts processing factory, controlling part quality in-house rather than assembling from mixed outside sources. The company supports logo customization from one piece and color customization from ten pieces. Products carry CE, ROHS, and UKCA certifications and hold an exclusive EU patent. After-sales responds within 12 hours and connects customers directly with engineers.
For a buyer, the practical approach is to measure the largest common carton first, then pick the width that takes it without preparation. PT10 for boards up to about 350mm, PT20 for boards up to about 450mm, PT30 for boards up to about 550mm. The rest of the table is the same across the three, which means the decision is about the bench, not about the specification. That is a simpler conversation than most equipment purchases, and it is the one the table is actually inviting.