A Scottish company has installed its second
"Resomation" machine, in the US state of Minnesota. The new facility
in Stillwater, Minnesota, has already processed the remains of 20 individuals.
Resomation involves the dissolution of the deceased in an
alkaline solution, and is billed in the US as "green cremation" or
"flameless cremation". The first machine was installed in Florida
last year, and has been used on 10 bodies to date.
Sandy Sullivan, chief executive officer of Resomation
Ltd, said the machine was running very efficiently after some fine-tuning.
"We've developed the process to a stage where it's running very well. I'm
happy with where it is," he told CRS.
"There has been refinement in software changes and pipe work
changes to make it quieter and things like that, but the machine is running
very smoothly."
Resomation involves the heating of the remains at some
300'C in a pressurised vessel containing a potassium hydroxide solution. The
process takes around three hours and reduces the body to skeletal remains which
are processed into a white powder which can be given to the family, like ash
from crematoria. Its makers claim it produces a third less greenhouse gas than
cremation, uses a seventh of the energy, and allows for the complete separation
of dental amalgam for safe disposal.
Mercury from amalgam vaporised in crematoria is blamed for a proportion
of airborne mercury emissions worldwide.
The new machine has been fitted at the Bradshaw
Celebration of Life Center in Stillwater. The first machine was installed at
the Anderson-McQueen funeral home in St Petersburg, Florida. Mr Sullivan is now
hoping to secure contracts to supply 10-15 more machines in the US in the near
future. Eight American states have so far passed legislation to permit the use
of Resomation on their territories. And while he says there is strong interest
in the UK and Europe too - Resomation Ltd is a Glasgow-based subsidiary of
Co-operative Funeralcare - similar enabling legislation is still needed.
Mr Sullivan said he has found using the
"Resomator" on real human remains for the first time
"surreal". He says families
have reacted well to the technology.
"They're very positive about the process. One family actually came
into the Resomation room because they wanted to kiss the father goodbye."
The daughter closed the door and started the process. They were absolutely
delighted to be able to give their father an exit which they were convinced he
would have absolutely loved, being very environmentally attuned."
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