Research Inc., Eden Prairie, Minn., has acquired Online Energy Inc., Livermore, Calif., a maker of ultraviolet curing systems. According to Research, a manufacturer of infrared heating systems and ink-drying equipment, Online Energy will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Research.

The purchase includes Online Energy's Model 1000 UV curing system for web-offset presses and the Model 3000 Instant Star UV curing system for narrow web flexographic presses. The acquisition broadens Research's capabilities, allowing the company to further penetrate the graphics market from an ink-drying standpoint and reach new markets in UV curing. Research plans to increase its investment in UV research and development, sales, marketing and product expansion.