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Metrology Glossary: Avoirdupois Units

What Are Avoirdupois Units?

Avoirdupois Units constitute a weight measurement system rooted in the fundamental concept that a pound comprises sixteen ounces. This system is widely utilized for quantifying the mass of various objects, especially in commercial and everyday contexts. With its origins tracing back to historical trade practices, avoirdupois units remain prominent in industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce, offering a practical and standardized approach to assessing the weight of items.

What Are Avoirdupois Units Used For?

Agriculture:

  • Weighing Harvests: Farmers utilize avoirdupois units for assessing the weight of their crops, both pre- and post-harvest. This aids in gauging yields and monitoring agricultural progress.
  • Produce Transactions: Avoirdupois units play a pivotal role in determining the pricing and facilitating the sale of agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, and grains. Customers can easily compare prices and make purchase decisions based on their requirements.
  • Livestock Nutrition: Avoirdupois units are applied to quantify the feed provided to livestock, ensuring precise nutrition for optimal growth and well-being.

Manufacturing:

  • Ensuring Product Weight: Avoirdupois units serve as a standard for verifying that manufactured goods adhere to specified weight requirements. This is essential for quality control and maintaining uniformity in production.
  • Logistics Management: Avoirdupois units are instrumental in calculating the weight of shipped goods, determining shipping costs accurately, and facilitating efficient transportation.
  • Ingredient Precision: Avoirdupois units are employed to measure ingredients during manufacturing processes, contributing to the uniformity and quality of the final product.

Commerce:

  • Retail Pricing: Avoirdupois units are integral in setting prices and managing the sale of retail goods, spanning food, clothing, and household items. This empowers customers to easily compare prices and make well-informed purchase choices.
  • Accurate Packaging: Avoirdupois units are employed to precisely label the weight of packaged goods, offering consumers essential information about the product and aiding them in making informed decisions.
  • Global Trade Standards: Avoirdupois units feature prominently in international trade agreements and transactions, fostering fairness and transparency in global commerce.
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Did you know… Cross Company is an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). Our ESOP started in 1979 and as of 2006, we are 100% employee-owned! Learn more about our ESOP and how that benefits both team members and our customers.
Did you know... the precision measurement group at Cross was founded in 1939 by our current CEO's grandfather, Jim King. That's a whole lot of calibration!
Did you know... A fingerprint weighs about 50 micrograms. We know, we weighed it! The residue left from a finger can actually make a difference in weight results which is why we wear gloves when we calibrate weights. For reference, a sheet of paper is about 4.5 grams, that’s 4.5 million micrograms.
Did you know… Cross Company has grown significantly since our start in 1954. Over the years we've acquired 26 companies! Today, our five groups have expertise in everything from industrial automation to precision measurement, and industry knowledge going all the way back to 1939.