The casket or container is placed in the cremation chamber, where the temperature is raised to approximately 1400 degrees to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. After approximately, 2 to 2 1/2 hours, all organic matter is consumed by heat or evaporation.
The residue which is left is bone fragments, known as cremated remains. The cremated remains are then carefully removed from the cremation chamber. Any metal is removed with a magnet and later disposed of in an approved manner. The cremated remains are then processed into fine particles and are placed in the container provided by the crematorium or placed in an urn purchased by the family.
The entire process takes approximately three hours. Throughout the cremation process, a carefully controlled labelling system ensures correct identification.
(Source: ICCFA FAQs: http://consumer.iccfa.com/faq)
I appreciate the information on what happens during the cremation process. I had no idea that the cremation process actually took around 3 hours, I was always under the impression that the process was actually pretty immediate. My cousins are looking into the cremation process for their grandparents, I will be sure to share this information with them.