SALT LAKE CITY – Inovar Inc. and IWIA have merged and will now operate under the name Inthinc.

Logan, Utah-based Inovar is an EMS provider. Salt Lake City-based IWI designs so-called black box and other automotive safety technologies.

Employees from both companies were retained and additional staff hired, bringing the workforce to 310. Plans call for an additional staffing increase of 30% by the end of 2008.

IWI CEO Todd Follmer has been named chairman and chief executive officer of the new entity. Inovar CEO Blake Kirby becomes president and chief operating officer.  IWI COO Jeffrey Harvey becomes executive vice president and chief administration officer.

In a press release, Follmer said, “We are creating a new space for driving safety … combining a first-rate manufacturing infrastructure with an innovative product design and development team