diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/API/src/MatrixWorkspace.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Framework/API/src/MatrixWorkspace.cpp
index 7a395feddd2a..f25cb1567fad 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/API/src/MatrixWorkspace.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/API/src/MatrixWorkspace.cpp
@@ -1211,10 +1211,15 @@ namespace Mantid
       {
       }
       /// the name of the dimennlsion as can be displayed along the axis
-      virtual std::string getName() const {return m_axis.unit()->caption();}
+      virtual std::string getName() const
+      {
+        const auto & unit = m_axis.unit();
+        if (unit && unit->unitID() != "Empty" ) return unit->caption();
+        else return m_axis.title();
+      }
 
       /// @return the units of the dimension as a string
-      virtual std::string getUnits() const {return m_axis.unit()->label();}
+      virtual const Kernel::UnitLabel getUnits() const { return m_axis.unit()->label(); }
 
       /// short name which identify the dimension among other dimension. A dimension can be usually find by its ID and various
       /// various method exist to manipulate set of dimensions by their names. 
@@ -1267,10 +1272,16 @@ namespace Mantid
       virtual ~MWXDimension(){};
 
       /// the name of the dimennlsion as can be displayed along the axis
-      virtual std::string getName() const {return m_ws->getAxis(0)->unit()->caption();}
+      virtual std::string getName() const
+      {
+        const auto *axis = m_ws->getAxis(0);
+        const auto & unit = axis->unit();
+        if (unit && unit->unitID() != "Empty" ) return unit->caption();
+        else return axis->title();
+      }
 
       /// @return the units of the dimension as a string
-      virtual std::string getUnits() const {return m_ws->getAxis(0)->unit()->label();}
+      virtual const Kernel::UnitLabel getUnits() const {return m_ws->getAxis(0)->unit()->label();}
 
       /// short name which identify the dimension among other dimension. A dimension can be usually find by its ID and various
       /// various method exist to manipulate set of dimensions by their names.
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h
index 532fa6905669..2e7b45272a65 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h
@@ -10,6 +10,14 @@
 
 namespace Mantid
 {
+  namespace Kernel
+  {
+    //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Forward declarations
+    //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    class UnitLabel;
+  }
+
   namespace Geometry
   {
   /** The class discribes one dimension of multidimensional dataset representing an ortogonal dimension and linear axis.
@@ -50,7 +58,7 @@ namespace Mantid
     virtual std::string getName() const = 0;
 
     /// @return the units of the dimension as a string
-    virtual std::string getUnits() const = 0;
+    virtual const Kernel::UnitLabel getUnits() const = 0;
 
     /// short name which identify the dimension among other dimensin. A dimension can be usually find by its ID and various  
     /// various method exist to manipulate set of dimensions by their names. 
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDHistoDimension.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDHistoDimension.h
index f195c006f0db..ed8130a96f60 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDHistoDimension.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/inc/MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDHistoDimension.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "MantidGeometry/DllConfig.h"
 #include "MantidKernel/Exception.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include "MantidKernel/VMD.h"
 
 namespace Mantid
@@ -26,12 +27,12 @@ namespace Geometry
     /** Constructor for simple MDHistoDimension
     * @param name :: full name of the axis
     * @param ID :: identifier string
-    * @param units :: string giving the units of this dimension
+    * @param units :: A plain-text string giving the units of this dimension
     * @param min :: minimum extent
     * @param max :: maximum extent
     * @param numBins :: number of bins (evenly spaced)
     */
-    MDHistoDimension(std::string name, std::string ID, std::string units, coord_t min, coord_t max, size_t numBins)
+    MDHistoDimension(std::string name, std::string ID, const Kernel::UnitLabel & units, coord_t min, coord_t max, size_t numBins)
     : m_name(name), m_dimensionId(ID), m_units(units),
       m_min(min), m_max(max), m_numBins(numBins),
       m_binWidth((max-min)/static_cast<coord_t>(numBins))
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ namespace Geometry
     }
 
     /// Return the units of the dimension as a string
-    virtual std::string getUnits() const
+    virtual const Kernel::UnitLabel getUnits() const
     {
       return m_units;
     }
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ namespace Geometry
     std::string m_dimensionId;
 
     /// Dimension units
-    std::string m_units;
+    Kernel::UnitLabel m_units;
 
     /// Extent of dimension
     coord_t m_min;
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/IMDDimensionFactoryTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/IMDDimensionFactoryTest.h
index c64146dd8e23..ad589730437e 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/IMDDimensionFactoryTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/IMDDimensionFactoryTest.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
 #include <cxxtest/TestSuite.h>
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimensionFactory.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include <Poco/DOM/DOMParser.h>
 #include <Poco/DOM/Document.h>
 #include <Poco/XML/XMLException.h>
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ class IMDDimensionFactoryTest: public CxxTest::TestSuite
   void testCorrectGeneration()
   {
     IMDDimension_const_sptr dimension = createDimension(constructDimensionWithUnitsXMLString());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Cubits", dimension->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Cubits", dimension->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Qz", dimension->getName());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("qz", dimension->getDimensionId());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-3, dimension->getMinimum());
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ class IMDDimensionFactoryTest: public CxxTest::TestSuite
   void testCorrectGenerationWithoutUnits()
   {
     IMDDimension_const_sptr dimension = createDimension(constructDimensionWithoutUnitsXMLString());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("None", dimension->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("None", dimension->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Qz", dimension->getName());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("qz", dimension->getDimensionId());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-3, dimension->getMinimum());
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ class IMDDimensionFactoryTest: public CxxTest::TestSuite
   void testOverrideMethod()
   {
     IMDDimension_const_sptr dimension = createDimension(constructDimensionWithUnitsXMLString(),10,-9.0,8.5);
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Cubits", dimension->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Cubits", dimension->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("Qz", dimension->getName());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("qz", dimension->getDimensionId());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-9.0, dimension->getMinimum());
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDGeometryXMLBuilderTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDGeometryXMLBuilderTest.h
index 7b40c2e0cb98..a9ec79530af6 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDGeometryXMLBuilderTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDGeometryXMLBuilderTest.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDGeometryXMLBuilder.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h"
 
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
+
 #include <boost/functional/hash.hpp>
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
@@ -36,7 +38,7 @@ class MDGeometryXMLBuilderTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getName,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getUnits,
-      std::string());
+      const Mantid::Kernel::UnitLabel());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getDimensionId,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getMaximum,
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest.h
index dad65d19a5ef..8dee24ffdb64 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Geometry/test/MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ class MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("testDimName", product->getName());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("testDimId", product->getDimensionId());
-   TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", product->getUnits());
+   TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", product->getUnits().ascii());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(0, product->getMinimum());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(2, product->getMaximum());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(1, product->getNBins());
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
    TS_ASSERT_THROWS_NOTHING(product = builder.create());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("testDimName", product->getName());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("testDimId", product->getDimensionId());
-   TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", product->getUnits());
+   TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", product->getUnits().ascii());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(0, product->getMinimum());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(2, product->getMaximum());
    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(1, product->getNBins());
@@ -211,4 +211,4 @@ class MDHistoDimensionBuilderTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 
 };
 
-#endif
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/src/Strings.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/src/Strings.cpp
index 296dab773928..73f1287862be 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/src/Strings.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/Kernel/src/Strings.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "MantidKernel/Strings.h"
 #include "MantidKernel/Exception.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 
 #include <Poco/StringTokenizer.h>
 #include <Poco/Path.h>
@@ -777,6 +778,12 @@ namespace Mantid
         return toString(std::vector<T>(value.begin(), value.end()));
       }
 
+      template<>
+      std::string toString(const UnitLabel &value)
+      {
+        return value;
+      }
+
       //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       /**
        *  Write out the three vectors into a file of type dc 9
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
index e678d35b22a8..40b42e6b7e07 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A", dim1->getName());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A", dim1->getDimensionId());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim1->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim1->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(1, dim1->getMaximum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-1, dim1->getMinimum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(5, dim1->getNBins());
@@ -177,4 +177,4 @@ class CreateMDHistoWorkspaceTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 };
 
 
-#endif /* MANTID_MDEVENTS_CREATEMDHISTOWORKSPACETEST_H_ */
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif /* MANTID_MDEVENTS_CREATEMDHISTOWORKSPACETEST_H_ */
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/LoadSQWTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/LoadSQWTest.h
index 115574b6294c..e40d4e7aef49 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/LoadSQWTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDAlgorithms/test/LoadSQWTest.h
@@ -142,10 +142,10 @@ class LoadSQWTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("en", d->getDimensionId());
 
     //Check Units
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", a->getUnits());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", b->getUnits());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", c->getUnits());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("mEv", d->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", a->getUnits().ascii());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", b->getUnits().ascii());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A^-1", c->getUnits().ascii());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("mEv", d->getUnits().ascii());
 
     //Check Nbins
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(3, a->getNBins());
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/src/QueryMDWorkspace.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/src/QueryMDWorkspace.cpp
index 991057b9849c..5c8f4d724387 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/src/QueryMDWorkspace.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/src/QueryMDWorkspace.cpp
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ namespace MDEvents
     for(size_t index = 0; index < ndims; ++index)
     {
       Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim = input->getDimension(index);
-      std::string dimInUnit = dim->getName()+"/"+dim->getUnits();
+      std::string dimInUnit = dim->getName()+"/"+dim->getUnits().ascii();
       output->addColumn("double",dimInUnit);
       //Magic numbers required to configure the X axis.
       output->getColumn(dimInUnit)->setPlotType(1);
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDEventWorkspaceTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDEventWorkspaceTest.h
index b0dd28dbc16c..9656a9f6cd91 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDEventWorkspaceTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDEventWorkspaceTest.h
@@ -251,13 +251,13 @@ void do_check_throws_invalid_alg_upon_execution(const MDFileObject& infile)
 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("a", dim1->getName());    
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A", dim1->getDimensionId());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim1->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim1->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-1, dim1->getMinimum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(2, dim1->getMaximum());
 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("b", dim2->getName());   
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("B", dim2->getDimensionId());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim2->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U", dim2->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-2, dim2->getMinimum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(3, dim2->getMaximum());
   }
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
index 7b78d4e2ae71..76c55f517523 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/MDEvents/test/ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest.h
@@ -231,14 +231,14 @@ class ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A", dim1->getName());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("A", dim1->getDimensionId());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U1", dim1->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U1", dim1->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(1, dim1->getMaximum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-1, dim1->getMinimum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(2, dim1->getNBins());
 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("B", dim2->getName()); 
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("B", dim2->getDimensionId());
-    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U2", dim2->getUnits());
+    TS_ASSERT_EQUALS("U2", dim2->getUnits().ascii());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(1, dim2->getMaximum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(-1, dim2->getMinimum());
     TS_ASSERT_EQUALS(2, dim2->getNBins());
@@ -289,4 +289,4 @@ class ImportMDHistoWorkspaceTest : public CxxTest::TestSuite
 };
 
 
-#endif /* MANTID_MDEVENTS_IMPORTMDHISTOWORKSPACETEST_H_ */
\ No newline at end of file
+#endif /* MANTID_MDEVENTS_IMPORTMDHISTOWORKSPACETEST_H_ */
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Framework/PythonInterface/mantid/geometry/src/Exports/IMDDimension.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Framework/PythonInterface/mantid/geometry/src/Exports/IMDDimension.cpp
index 3cebcfa77d5d..344412f4b38f 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Framework/PythonInterface/mantid/geometry/src/Exports/IMDDimension.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Framework/PythonInterface/mantid/geometry/src/Exports/IMDDimension.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 
 #include <boost/python/class.hpp>
 #include <boost/python/register_ptr_to_python.hpp>
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/API/src/MantidQwtIMDWorkspaceData.cpp b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/API/src/MantidQwtIMDWorkspaceData.cpp
index 8c1bd7791120..9ab24cfaaadd 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/API/src/MantidQwtIMDWorkspaceData.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/API/src/MantidQwtIMDWorkspaceData.cpp
@@ -453,7 +453,7 @@ QString MantidQwtIMDWorkspaceData::getXAxisLabel() const
   {
     // One of the dimensions of the original
     IMDDimension_const_sptr dim = m_originalWorkspace.lock()->getDimension(m_currentPlotAxis);
-    xLabel = QString::fromStdString(dim->getName() + " (" + dim->getUnits() + ")");
+    xLabel = QString::fromStdString(dim->getName()) + " (" + QString::fromStdWString(dim->getUnits().utf8()) + ")";
   }
   else
   {
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/inc/MantidQtSliceViewer/SliceViewer.h b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/inc/MantidQtSliceViewer/SliceViewer.h
index f21dd3d260b8..44f577c34670 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/inc/MantidQtSliceViewer/SliceViewer.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/inc/MantidQtSliceViewer/SliceViewer.h
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public slots:
 
   void updateDisplay(bool resetAxes = false);
   void updateDimensionSliceWidgets();
-  void resetAxis(int axis, Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim);
+  void resetAxis(int axis, const Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr & dim);
   QwtDoubleInterval getRange(Mantid::API::IMDIterator * it);
   QwtDoubleInterval getRange(std::vector<Mantid::API::IMDIterator *> iterators);
 
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/DimensionSliceWidget.cpp b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/DimensionSliceWidget.cpp
index 4745d5d46136..7d2892969e78 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/DimensionSliceWidget.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/DimensionSliceWidget.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "MantidQtSliceViewer/DimensionSliceWidget.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include <iosfwd>
 #include <iostream>
 #include <iomanip>
@@ -175,7 +176,7 @@ void DimensionSliceWidget::setMinMax(double min, double max)
 {
   if (!m_dim) return;
   ui.lblName->setText(QString::fromStdString(m_dim->getName()) );
-  ui.lblUnits->setText(QString::fromStdString(m_dim->getUnits()) );
+  ui.lblUnits->setText(QString::fromStdWString(m_dim->getUnits().utf8()) );
 
   ui.horizontalSlider->setRange(min, max, m_dim->getBinWidth());
 
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/SliceViewer.cpp b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/SliceViewer.cpp
index bc44e1a4c3bf..07f4cfe693fa 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/SliceViewer.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/SliceViewer.cpp
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@
 #include "MantidAPI/AlgorithmManager.h"
 #include "MantidQtAPI/AlgorithmRunner.h"
 #include "MantidQtAPI/FileDialogHandler.h"
+#include "MantidQtAPI/PlotAxis.h"
 
 
 using namespace Mantid;
@@ -1192,10 +1193,10 @@ void SliceViewer::setXYCenter(double x, double y)
  * @param axis :: int for X or Y
  * @param dim :: dimension to show
  */
-void SliceViewer::resetAxis(int axis, Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim)
+void SliceViewer::resetAxis(int axis, const IMDDimension_const_sptr &dim)
 {
   m_plot->setAxisScale( axis, dim->getMinimum(), dim->getMaximum());
-  m_plot->setAxisTitle( axis, QString::fromStdString(dim->getName() + " (" + dim->getUnits() + ")") );
+  m_plot->setAxisTitle( axis, API::PlotAxis(*dim).title());
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -2073,7 +2074,7 @@ void SliceViewer::rebinParamsChanged()
     // Set the BasisVector property...
     VMD basis(m_ws->getNumDims());
     basis[d] = 1.0;
-    std::string prop = dim->getName() +"," + dim->getUnits() + ","
+    std::string prop = dim->getName() +"," + dim->getUnits().ascii() + ","
         + basis.toString(",");
     alg->setPropertyValue("BasisVector" + Strings::toString(d), prop);
   }
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/XYLimitsDialog.cpp b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/XYLimitsDialog.cpp
index e0cb7d5a1802..9b53b5ad0659 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/XYLimitsDialog.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/src/XYLimitsDialog.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include "../inc/MantidQtSliceViewer/XYLimitsDialog.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include <QIntValidator>
 
 XYLimitsDialog::XYLimitsDialog(QWidget *parent)
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ XYLimitsDialog::~XYLimitsDialog()
 void XYLimitsDialog::setXDim(Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim)
 {
   ui.lblXName->setText( QString::fromStdString(dim->getName()) );
-  ui.lblXUnits->setText( QString::fromStdString(dim->getUnits()) );
+  ui.lblXUnits->setText( QString::fromStdWString(dim->getUnits().utf8()) );
 }
 
 /** Set the labels for the Y dimensions
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ void XYLimitsDialog::setXDim(Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim)
 void XYLimitsDialog::setYDim(Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension_const_sptr dim)
 {
   ui.lblYName->setText( QString::fromStdString(dim->getName()) );
-  ui.lblYUnits->setText( QString::fromStdString(dim->getUnits()) );
+  ui.lblYUnits->setText( QString::fromStdWString(dim->getUnits().utf8()) );
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/test/MockObjects.h b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/test/MockObjects.h
index 9c9bcb5b0fc4..d7ddc461ce05 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/test/MockObjects.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/MantidQt/SliceViewer/test/MockObjects.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 #include "MantidQtSliceViewer/ZoomablePeaksView.h"
 #include "MantidQtSliceViewer/UpdateableOnDemand.h"
 #include "MantidAPI/IPeak.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include <boost/regex.hpp>
 #include <gmock/gmock.h>
 #include <QColor>
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ class MockPeakTransformFactory : public PeakTransformFactory
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getName,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getUnits,
-      std::string());
+      const Mantid::Kernel::UnitLabel());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getDimensionId,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getMaximum,
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/Common.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/Common.cpp
index 698610bea2c8..5e02d039a6f7 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/Common.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/Common.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include "MantidVatesAPI/Common.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/IMDDimension.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 
 #include <vtkNew.h>
 #include <vtkFieldData.h>
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDEWLoadingPresenter.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDEWLoadingPresenter.cpp
index b1e68d10c77c..a53babad7b30 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDEWLoadingPresenter.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDEWLoadingPresenter.cpp
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ namespace Mantid
       {
         throw std::runtime_error("Have not yet run ::extractMetaData!");
       }
-      return tDimension->getName() + " (" + tDimension->getUnits() + ")";
+      return tDimension->getName() + " (" + tDimension->getUnits().ascii() + ")";
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDHWLoadingPresenter.cpp b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDHWLoadingPresenter.cpp
index d816bd391361..07cb4bd2a61d 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDHWLoadingPresenter.cpp
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/src/MDHWLoadingPresenter.cpp
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ namespace Mantid
       {
         throw std::runtime_error("Have not yet run ::extractMetaData!");
       }
-      return tDimension->getName() + " (" + tDimension->getUnits() + ")";
+      return tDimension->getName() + " (" + tDimension->getUnits().ascii() + ")";
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/DimensionPresenterTest.h b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/DimensionPresenterTest.h
index 4c7aff2fc687..0c47cf98ad3a 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/DimensionPresenterTest.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/DimensionPresenterTest.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "MantidVatesAPI/GeometryPresenter.h"
 #include "MantidVatesAPI/DimensionView.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDTypes.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 #include "gmock/gmock.h"
  
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ class DimensionPresenterTest: public CxxTest::TestSuite
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getName,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getUnits,
-      std::string());
+      const Mantid::Kernel::UnitLabel());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getDimensionId,
       std::string());
     MOCK_CONST_METHOD0(getMaximum,
diff --git a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/MockObjects.h b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/MockObjects.h
index 42339484e630..0e68c9966ad4 100644
--- a/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/MockObjects.h
+++ b/Code/Mantid/Vates/VatesAPI/test/MockObjects.h
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDHistoDimension.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDTypes.h"
 #include "MantidGeometry/MDGeometry/MDImplicitFunction.h"
+#include "MantidKernel/UnitLabel.h"
 #include "MantidMDEvents/MDHistoWorkspace.h"
 #include "MantidVatesAPI/MDLoadingView.h"
 #include "MantidVatesAPI/Clipper.h"
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ class FakeIMDDimension: public Mantid::Geometry::IMDDimension
 public:
   FakeIMDDimension(std::string id, unsigned int nbins=10) : m_id(id), m_nbins(nbins) {}
   std::string getName() const {throw std::runtime_error("Not implemented");}
-  std::string getUnits() const {throw std::runtime_error("Not implemented");}
+  const Mantid::Kernel::UnitLabel getUnits() const {throw std::runtime_error("Not implemented");}
   std::string getDimensionId() const {return m_id;}
   coord_t getMaximum() const {return 10;}
   coord_t getMinimum() const {return 0;};