Formax FD 8500HS P-7 High-Security Office Shredder

The Formax FD 8500HS is a P-7 high-security cross-cut shredder built to destroy classified, confidential, and regulated documents. Formax states the FD 8500HS has been evaluated by the NSA and meets NSA/CSS requirements for high-security cross-cut shredders. It shreds to 1/32 in. x 3/16 in. cross-cut particles (DIN 66399 P-7), takes 4 to 5 sheets per pass through a 16 in. feed opening, and empties into a 26-gallon bin. EvenFlow automatic oiling keeps the cutting head conditioned during sustained runs, and an ECO standby mode drops the motor into low-power idle after inactivity. Mid-State Litho has been an authorized Formax dealer since 1984, serving Michigan and the Great Lakes with on-site installation, factory-trained service, and lease or purchase financing. If you are comparing P-7 shredders, NSA shredders, or cross-cut high-security office shredders, this page covers the FD 8500HS in detail.

Specifications

What P-7 / NSA Level 6 security means

DIN 66399 P-7 is the highest document-security level defined by the standard. To qualify, a shredder must reduce paper to cross-cut particles no larger than 5 square millimeters. The FD 8500HS produces 1/32 in. x 3/16 in. cross-cut particles, which fall inside that P-7 ceiling. You will still see the term Level 6 in some Formax literature: that is the equivalent tier under the older DIN 32757 standard, which is why the two designations describe the same physical machine. Throughout this page we lead with P-7 (the current DIN 66399 standard) and note the legacy Level 6 term once for buyers searching the older wording. P-7 is specified by organizations that handle the most sensitive records: government and defense contractors, classified-material handlers, and healthcare and finance operations with strict destruction requirements.

How to choose a high-security shredder

Four factors separate one high-security shredder from the next. Use them to size up or down within the Formax P-7 line.

1. Security level. P-6 cross-cut suffices for confidential business records; P-7 is required when a contract, agency, or regulation mandates the highest destruction standard. If P-7 is not required, a P-5 or P-6 unit runs faster and costs less.
2. Throughput and sheet capacity. The FD 8500HS handles 4 to 5 sheets per pass. For a single workstation, a deskside unit such as the Formax FD 8300HS may be enough.
3. Duty cycle and run time. A continuous-duty motor, ECO standby, and EvenFlow oiling let a unit run sustained jobs without overheating. For heavier daily volume, the Formax FD 8650HS steps up capacity.
4. Footprint. The FD 8500HS is a 242 lb office floor unit that ships by freight. If you also destroy optical media, the Formax FD 8732HS handles paper and optical media in one P-7 machine.

Browse the full range in the high-security paper shredders category, step back to the full paper shredders hub, or compare against standard office units in commercial paper shredders. Shops that also destroy hard drives can pair this with a Formax FD 87HDS hard-drive shredder.

Why buy from Mid-State Litho

Mid-State Litho has sold and serviced finishing equipment since 1984 as a second-generation family business and an authorized Formax dealer. Our technicians are factory-trained, and we machine replacement parts in house, so a down machine does not wait on a distant depot. We deliver across Michigan and the Great Lakes with same-day or next-day service, install on site, and train your operators - this is not a drop-ship. We carry lease and purchase financing so a P-7 shredder fits your budget. See service and support for coverage, or financing and leasing for terms. Call us to confirm lead time and schedule an install.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Formax FD 8500HS NSA approved?

Formax states the FD 8500HS has been evaluated by the NSA and meets NSA/CSS requirements for high-security cross-cut shredders. Confirm current NSA/CSS listing status with us or with Formax for your specific compliance needs.

What is P-7 security and how does it differ from P-5 or P-6?

P-7 is the highest security level under DIN 66399, requiring cross-cut particles no larger than 5 square millimeters. P-5 and P-6 permit larger particles. The FD 8500HS shreds to 1/32 in. x 3/16 in. particles, inside the P-7 ceiling.

Can the FD 8500HS destroy classified or top-secret documents?

It produces P-7 cross-cut particles, the level specified for the most sensitive records. Your agency or contract defines the exact destruction standard required; per Formax, the FD 8500HS meets the P-7 / NSA-CSS evaluated tier.

Why choose a cross-cut high-security shredder over strip-cut?

Strip-cut leaves long, readable ribbons. Cross-cut reduces paper to small particles and is the only style that reaches P-7. For classified or regulated material, cross-cut at P-7 is the standard.

What is the shred size and sheet capacity?

The FD 8500HS produces 1/32 in. x 3/16 in. cross-cut particles, handles 4 to 5 sheets per pass, and empties into a 26-gallon bin.