Modern Film/Plate solution for letterpress?

[madtho]

Hi all-
First, thank you for all the help you've given over the years. My questions have always been answered with a quick search, so much so that I've never even registered 'til now.

I work at a letterpress shop (really) and we're starting to have trouble with sources for film (we expose photopolymer plates like flexo). It's getting more expensive, there are fewer places doing it, and they're getting further away from us.

We're open to direct to flexo plate solutions, but direct to film is probably more realistic. As you can imagine, we don't have a real lot of $$ to spend. Our plates are A3 size, so it can be small.

We've looked into the Xante Filmmaker, and though the price is right, it just doesn't hold up for small type and fine line art. Is there an updated take on the laser idea?

So, any recommendations, ideas, experiences?
Thanks a bunch.
-mad

[born2print]

take a look at heidleberg,
we have a 2-up size device running poly that works well.

[rejamesuk]

hi, where are you based? i can help in uk.