Cremation Equipment
A cremation furnace, also known as a cremator or retort, is an industrial furnace designed to cremate one body at a time. These modern crematories are fueled by natural gas or propane and reach temperatures between 1,400-2,000°F. On average, it takes 1-3 hours to fully cremate a body, reducing it to around 3-7 pounds of bone fragments, known as cremated remains. The machine used to pulverize any chunks to a uniform powder is called a cremulator.
If the deceased was embalmed or had a viewing, they will be cremated in the clothing they were buried in. Without those services, cremation occurs in whatever clothing they passed away in. The remains are usually a white, chalky material and are placed in an urn selected by the family or a default plastic container provided by the crematorium.
Cremation requires the body to be placed in a rigid, combustible container first for safety and ease of handling. The box is loaded into the heated retort to begin the process. As the cremation progresses, the operator may reposition the body to facilitate full combustion. Metals like dental gold will liquefy and incorporate into the bone fragments.
Cremation Business Insights
The cremation industry earns $3-5 billion annually in the US and continues to grow as environmental awareness spreads. Executives in the field can expect average salaries around $60,000. Startup costs range from $100-250k. Profit margins are healthy due to increasing demand.
Animal cremation furnaces are considerably less expensive than those for human remains, due to industry standards.