An Alkaline Hydrolysis machine

About five or six years ago I was at the Minnesota Funeral Director’s Convention when I first heard about alkaline hydrolysis – the process of an acid bath like process to decomposs the body.  I was wandering around the exhibit floor and there was a small booth promoting a machine for such.  Being inquisitive, I stopped and listened to what they were saying.  I heard the sales rep say that the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, had the only machine and license for such in the state but soon others were thinking about adding the process to their consumer disposition choices and the Minnesota Department of Health was planning on approving the procedure as lawful for final disposition.

It wasn’t too long after that I visited with my friend, Jason Bradshaw, owner of Bradshaw Funeral Homes in St. Paul.  Jason, and his father, Jim, have been known as innovators in the death care industry in Minnesota.  Jason mentioned that Bradshaw’s were going to buy a resomater, the name of the chamber like machine,  and get into the alkaline hydrolysis business for those that would prefer this method of “flameless cremation” as they refer to it.  They would be the first innovator in Minnesota for this process.

The world famous BBC News just did a story on the Bradshaws and their resomater.  For those of you who have not been brought up to speed on the process, the story is about as good as it gets in showing what alkaline hydrolysis is.  I suggest that you click n the BBC News link to see the story.  According to it, when offered the choice between alkaline hydrolysis and standard cremation for the same cost, Jason Bradshaw mentions that about 80% of the people will choose alkaline hydrolysis.

Funeral Director Daily take:  When anything is new and different it takes a while to warm up to it.  I’m not quite there yet, but I’m only one traditionalist from the baby boomer generation.  I’m of the opinion that this will catch on with those that are worried about the carbon imprint of cremation, mercury being dispersed in the air, and other concerns of today’s cremation.

Will it become a mainstay of the death care industry.  We have seen a metamorphis in the last 2o years from earth burial to cremation.  My guess from here on out is that earth burial continues to lose market share, cremation will be strong, and alkaline hydrolysis will continue to move forward. — Just another reason to know all of your options as you plan your next move in the business.[wpforms id=”436″ title=”true” description=”true”]