Aggregates are everywhere we look in the world around us. These materials, which are made up of an aggregate of different other materials, including various types of stones, clay, silt, and sand, include the asphalt that paves our roads, the concrete that is used for the foundations of our skyscrapers, or the cement that makes up the bricks of our homes. There is no single aggregate-each one is made differently for a different purpose. One aggregate that uses a certain mixture of stones, silt, and petroleum-based binding may have very different characteristics than one that uses another mixture of pebbles, clay, and a different binding. One aggregate may be more suitable for roads while another may be more suitable for sidewalks.

Industrial scales are often subject to very harsh conditions. A cylinder scale may have to support a 250 pound tilted liquid gas cylinder as it is being loaded on and off. A platform scale may be subject to high shock loads as large pallets are placed on it by a forklift. Parts counting scales may also have to support these shock loads if a large batch of parts are placed on it at one time.