Formax FD 87HD Hard Drive Punch

A hard drive that is erased or even degaussed can still hold recoverable data, and a drive that simply gets thrown out is a breach waiting to happen. The Formax FD 87HD destroys the drive physically: it punches a hole straight through the hard drive, deforming the internal platters so the data cannot be read back. It is a desk-side unit for any office, IT department, or records room that has to retire drives and wants physical destruction it can see. It is not a paper shredder, and it is not a degausser. It is a physical platter punch, often used alongside shredding and degaussing in a full media-destruction process.

Load a drive into the feed chute, close the safety shield, and the hardened steel punch punctures the drive, which then drops into a waste bin for storage until disposal or recycling. The punch handles the two most common drive sizes, 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch, with no adjustment, and the LED control panel shows status with jam protection, auto-reverse, and automatic stop. Sensors stop the motor if the door is open or the bin is full.

Hard-Drive Punch vs Degausser vs Shredder

The three media-destruction methods do different things, and many organizations combine them:

• Physical punch (FD 87HD): deforms the platters by punching through the drive. Fast, visible, and desk-side.
• Degaussing: erases magnetic data with a strong field and leaves the drive physically intact. It works on magnetic hard drives, not most solid-state drives.
• Shredding: physically shreds drives into fragments, usually with a larger and heavier machine.

The right choice depends on the media you retire and the process your organization follows. A punch is a fast, low-footprint way to make a magnetic drive unreadable on site.

Where the FD 87HD Fits in MSL's Data-Destruction Range

The FD 87HD is the physical drive-punch member of the Mid-State Litho data-destruction range. For paper and media, it sits alongside our high-security paper shredders, micro-cut shredders, and the broader paper shredder lineup. It is a Formax product, part of the full Formax line we carry.

Why Buy from Mid-State Litho

Mid-State Litho is an authorized Formax dealer, family-owned and Michigan-based since 1984. We support a full data-destruction range, drive punches and shredders together, not a single model. The FD 87HD ships drop-shipped from the manufacturer, and our factory-trained team is your point of contact for sales and support. Financing is available, and you can contact us for a recommendation across drive punches and shredders.

Formax FD 87HD FAQ

Does punching a hard drive actually destroy the data?

Yes. Deforming the platters makes the data unreadable by normal means, unlike erasing or reformatting, which can leave recoverable data behind.

How is the FD 87HD different from a shredder?

It punches through and deforms the platters rather than shredding the drive into fragments. It is smaller and desk-side.

Does it work on SSDs?

It is designed for platter-based hard disk drives. Solid-state drives have no platters, so confirm the right method for solid-state media, which is often shredding.

Is physical destruction better than degaussing?

They address different things. Degaussing erases magnetically, the punch destroys physically, and many organizations use both.

Do you install and service it?

It ships drop-shipped from the manufacturer. Mid-State Litho is your authorized Formax dealer for sales and support.

Specifications