Shorts

York Graphic Services, York, Pa., has been re-launched as an independent printing company following its purchase by Jim Kell Jr. from TechBooks, a 2,200-employee worldwide publishing production company that had bought the unit a few years ago and operated it as TechBooks Print. Kell, president and sole proprietor of York, which employs 58 people, forecasts sales this year of $9 million.

BASF Printing Systems will distribute its line of K+E printing inks, photopolymer printing plates, and platemaking equipment in the U.S. through xpedx, a unit of International Paper. In Canada, BASF will distribute its K+E inks through Heidelberg Canada Graphic Equipment Limited.

McQuiddy Printing, Nashville, Tenn., has hired a new president, Jim Cartwright, and promoted David L. McQuiddy III to chairman and Webb McQuiddy to executive vice president in charge of manufacturing operations. McQuiddy, founded in 1903 and now employing more than 100 people, is one of nine divisions of Premier Print Holdings, Charlotte, N.C.

Nies/Artcraft Printing Companies, St. Louis, Mo., has acquired Digital Ink Systems, also of St. Louis, a specialist in digital asset management and image capture.

At Penn Litho, a $45 million heatset half-web printer in Cerritos, Calif., sales and marketing vice president Carol Geddes has added the title of general manager.

Vue/Point 2002, an annual conference on a range of technical and business issues emphasizing vendor/user exchange via open panels and round-table discussions, will take place March 25-27 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. For more, visit vue-point.org on the Web or phone (800) 962-5650.

Erv Ratazak has been promoted to president of CRC Information Systems, Inc., Scottsdale, Ariz., a provider of fully integrated business management systems. Henry S. Hebing continues as chief executive.