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An Austin graphic arts and printer supply company has leased the former local facilities of Chicago-based Besco Graphic Systems Corp. with plans to breathe new life into the shuttered plant just east of downtown. Besco, a graphic arts supply company with 14 branch offices nationwide, went out of business in July.
Thompson Supply Inc. has hired 10 employees to manufacture printer ink and to sell graphic-arts supplies to commercial printers from Besco's former 5,500square-foot facility. The company officially took over the plant and its printing equipment at 1602 N. Pan Am Expressway on the East Side on Aug. 1. By using Besco's former equipment, Thompson has the capability to manufacture and sell every color of ink. in the Pantone scale, according to company officials.
Company officials declined to reveal lease costs for the facility or the duration of the lease.
The facility Thompson Supply has leased was originally the building of former leading supplier Southwest Printing Ink, founded in San Antonio in 1945. Besco acquired Southwest Printing Ink and leased the facility from the former owners in the late 1980s.