There are many ways to safely process files on a storage drive, some of which are more destructive than others. DiskMantler, for example, can violently knock a hard drive apart in about 60 seconds, leaving individual components that can be easily recycled. However, there is another commercial option for those who need to destroy large amounts of storage devices in a short period of time.
For years, DIYers have used less sophisticated destruction methods such as magnets, drills and even guns. The MediaGone500 SSD and Flash Media Shredder from VeritySystems is a professional tool capable of shredding SATA and NVMe SSDs, USB flash drives, optical discs and even smartphones. The company says the machine can be installed in an office environment and is available in desktop and portable form factors. Built-in thermal protection and jam protection ensure worry-free operation without any slowdown.
It uses a standard power cord and is said to be designed to be efficient and have a low carbon footprint (although it still uses a whopping 1,400 watts of power). The reinforced laminated glass windows are equipped with LED lighting, allowing onlookers to safely watch the equipment being crushed in standard or enhanced destruction modes. Shredded material is automatically loaded into a five-gallon container (or a one-gallon drawer on desktop models) for processing.
MediaGone500 can destroy an SSD in one minute and can process up to 100 SSDs/500 flash drives/45 mobile phones per hour based on its specifications. The device complies with DIN66399 specifications and has safety classes E-4, T-4, O-4 and H-5. Security key lock prevents unauthorized use of the machine.
Pricing starts at $12,614 after a 13% discount, including free shipping. This isn't a tool that the average hobbyist is likely to invest in, but if you regularly manage sensitive storage devices or run a data processing company, it might be worth a look.