Retorts are the high temperature ovens used for cremation. They are very big, expensive pieces of equipment. Given the rising trend toward cremation, funeral directors are looking to invest in retorts.
Joe Blair with U.S. Cremation Equipment talks about his company’s cremation retorts for people and pets. The company had a booth at the expo for the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association’s (ICCFA) 2014 convention.
Since these units range in weight from 24,000 pounds to 36,000 pounds, they only displayed images of their equipment. It requires a crane and rigging to lift a retort into place, and it would not fit through the doors of most buildings. The chimney would also need to be lifted by crane and lowered through a small hole in the roof of the building housing a retort.
This is why it takes a great deal of planning before purchasing and installing a cremation retort.
On display was the Classic model, which can cremate a person up to 800 pounds in size, smaller Animal Cremator systems, and the larger X-Cel system. This larger unit is primarily shipped to other countries like Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Australia, where it’s customary to put larger, expensive hardwood caskets into the retort. The bigger system can handle the greater demand.
These units can run on natural gas or propane. Electricity is used to power blowers that make the unit more efficient. Emissions are considered a minor source of pollution, no longer regulated by the EPA. Watch the video to learn more!
The company’s website is www.USCremationEquipment.com.