Bolingbrook, IL,-IST Metz and its North American subsidiary, IST America, have formed an alliance with a new company created through the purchase of Farwest Graphic Technologies by technotrans AG, the leading global supplier of printing auxiliary equipment for printing presses. The new company-as yet unnamed-will provide North American assembly of most technotrans products, and will expand service and support of technotrans products. Through the alliance with IST Metz and IST America, the new organization will provide conventional and hybrid UV equipment for installation on sheetfed presses. In announcing the alliance, IST America president Joachim Jung commented: "The formation of this new company melds the technologies of two major suppliers of sheetfed press equipment. IST Metz and IST America are pleased to partner with the leading global supplier in this area. Printers in North America can only benefit from the synergy created by these two equipment leaders, and from the resulting expertise and support strength in drying and curing systems and lithographic process control." Bill Bonallo, president of Farwest Graphic Technologies, added: "Our partnership with IST will enable our new company to offer complete packages for sheetfed ultraviolet curing applications. We are pleased to form a relationship with the acknowledged leader in this important technological area, and together we expect to offer sheetfed printers a product line far superior than currently available in the industry." IST America Corporation is the North American subsidiary of IST Metz GmbH, the premier manufacturer of ultraviolet drying and curing systems for graphic arts and industrial applications. Each IST ultraviolet system is engineered and manufactured to exacting specifications. Since its founding in 1977, IST has produced more than 6000 ultraviolet units and more than 20,000 lamps, with some 80 percent in graphic arts applications. IST installations are in 56 countries around the world.