Northern Ireland's second crematorium is set to open for services from Monday.
Located at Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, this £5m facility will complement the existing services at Roselawn.
However, Crematorium Manger Jim Parker said it will ease but not solve the demand for cremation slots in Northern Ireland.
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"This has been a substantial investment by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council," he told Belfast Live.
"It is a state of the art, modern facility and its very contemporary but it also has a purpose for religious or secular services.
"It is not here to satisfy the issue of cremation demand in Northern Ireland. It is primarily here to offer a fitting and reverent service for the public and users of it."
Jim said that the crematorium will offer a 45 minute cremation service so that families don't feel rushed and that they have a service which is fitting and personal to themselves.
"When families arrive they will come through the main doors to our foyer before coming into this modern ceremony room which seats 164 individuals.
"Before that, what is very important is the conversation with the funeral director and arranging the service which can be done to commemorate, celebrate or remember the deceased."
The council have invested heavily in audio visual technology at the site including a live broadcast feature alongside TV screens where families can display videos, images of the deceased or tributes.
"A lot of families will take the cremated remains away maybe to a favourite place or a family graveyard but we are also investing heavily in our scattering lawn and our memorial options which we would hope will be a pleasing and fitting place for families to remember their loved ones," Jim added.
"While we are here to offer the service of cremation, the emphasis is again on the quality of the service.
"It is not that we are here to solve cremation demand for Northern Ireland or to be in competition with Roselawn.
"It is simply to offer families a different choice with six services daily from 10am to 3pm which means that families shouldn't feel rushed or be mixing with other mourners from other services."
Pricing for 2023/24 is £475 for residents in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough and £950 for non-residents.
The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Mark Cooper BEM said: “The new crematorium will provide a crucial service for families across all of Northern Ireland.
"Arranging and attending funeral services is a very difficult and emotional time for all families and our staff who have over 100 years’ experience between them will do everything to support the bereaved in their time of need.
“Due to the lack of burial space the demand for cremations has increased significantly over the past number of years and this new crematorium will provide more options for bereaved families.”
Video: Harry Bateman.
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