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.

Many different kinds of industrial measurement devices are used to obtain information that is used during an industrial process. This may be an electronic thermometer to keep track of temperatures while mixing chemicals. Or a flowmeter to measure the amount of liquid that has been dispensed. Or a pressure transducer to keep track of pressure inside a tank or cylinder. Or calipers or micrometers to carefully measure distance. Almost without exception, there is a standard trade off in choosing the best device. Greater accuracy means a higher cost. Less expensive tools are less expensive. This has also been true with industrial scales. For the same class and size of device, the more accurate scales are more expensive. Digital scales manufacturers have had a choice of two prevalent technologies. The most common has been industrial scales that use one or more strain [+]