M.A.B. Paints, Diamond Vogel Paint Co. and Kelly-Moore Paint Co. said the alliance will provide a cost-efficient nationwide supply source that offers regionally preferred products, national-account pricing, field and laboratory technical support, and flexible ordering and billing functions.

The alliance, to be managed by a small group of executives from each of the companies, has been launched following a 1999 test-market demonstration that targeted national accounts in the property-management and chain-retail markets. The alliance will also focus on major homebuilders and the hospitality, health-care, and certain industrial segments, the companies said.

"The Paint America national alliance brings the best of both worlds to national customers," said Joseph P. Cristiano, president and CEO of Kelly-Moore. The alliance's customers are serviced by a national account manager, field technicians and customer-service personnel based in regional Paint America offices.

M.A.B. Paints, Philadelphia, operates more than 250 stores in 20 eastern and Midwestern states. Diamond Vogel Paints, based in Iowa, operates five manufacturing facilities and 80 company-owned stores in 12 central states. Kelly Moore, San Carlos, CA, operates four manufacturing facilities and more than 150 stores in the western United States and Guam.