Professional bag manufacturing: fully featured flatbed and cylinder bed machines

When the workshop is already working professionally, the challenge isn’t just sewing well: it’s sewing well, quickly and always the same. At this level the flatbed and cylinder bed machines have all the automatic functions, and with electronic motors you can program short sewing sequences. Every operation is done easily and with the same quality piece after piece.

Flat and shaped, now fully featured

We keep organising the workshop the same way as in the previous step: flatbed machines for flat work and cylinder bed machines for shaped work. The difference is in the equipment. For this level we recommend four machines:

• Flat work: PFAFF 2545 and Dürkopp Adler Gamma 767, compound feed flatbeds.
• Shaped work: PFAFF 335G in the fully featured version and Dürkopp Adler 669, cylinder bed with compound feed.

Flatbed machines: PFAFF 2545 and Dürkopp Adler Gamma 767

For decorative topstitching on panels, flaps and covers, pockets, handles, reinforcements and joining flat pieces.

Cylinder bed machines: PFAFF 335G and Dürkopp Adler 669

For closing assembled pieces, gussets, curves, narrow areas and binding.

All the automatic functions

At this level the machines have the functions that save time on every seam:

• Automatic presser foot lifter: the foot lifts by itself when you stop, leaving both hands free to turn and position the piece.
• Automatic backtacking: the seam is secured at the start and end the same way every time, without depending on the operator’s hand.
• Thread trimmer: the thread is cut when the seam is finished. Less handling, fewer thread ends and the piece moves on to the next operation sooner.

It’s a few seconds on each seam, but a bag has lots of seams and a run has lots of bags. By the end of the day you notice the difference.

Electronic motors: short sewing programs

An electronic motor with a control panel lets you set up short sewing programs. Depending on the model, you can:

• Sew sections with a fixed number of stitches, for example for handles and reinforcements that are always the same length.
• Link start backtack, seam and end backtack in a single sequence.
• Leave the needle stopped up or down, whichever suits turning the piece.
• Limit the speed in delicate areas and keep the power when sewing slowly.

The result is a repeatable seam that depends less on each operator’s experience, and quicker training for new staff.

Sewing parts, attachments, guides and stops

Each machine is completed with the right equipment for its job:

• Sewing parts: needle plate, feed dog, presser foot and needle chosen according to the material, the thickness and the type of seam, joining or decorative.
• Attachments: binder, folders and special presser feet for sewing on the edge or over steps in thickness.
• Guides and stops: for topstitching always at the same distance from the edge and for starting and finishing at the same point.

With the machine properly equipped, all the work a bag needs is done easily: flat, shaped, binding, edge seams and decorative topstitching.

At a glance

For professional bag manufacturing, combine fully featured flatbed and cylinder bed machines: PFAFF 2545 or Dürkopp Adler Gamma 767 for flat work, PFAFF 335G or Dürkopp Adler 669 for shaped work. With automatic presser foot lifter, backtacking and thread trimmer, programmable electronic motors and the right sewing parts, guides and stops, each workstation works fast and always the same.

When the flatbed and cylinder bed aren’t enough: special machines

Some operations on bags can’t be done well on either a flatbed or a cylinder bed: very tight corners, very small bags, gussets and side finishes right at the edge. That’s what special machines for leather goods are for, such as the Brother – Cometa series: the VCA 40 02 XXS post bed, the VBO XXS with swing arm, the VBG TR rotating arm and the VBS 01 for gusseted items.

CO.ME.TA. also builds its special machines on Dürkopp Adler and JUKI heads. In the Dürkopp Adler – Cometa series you have the VP 867 compound feed flatbed, the VBO swing arm, the VBG rotating arm, the VCA 40 Mod. 01, VCA 40 Mod. 02 and VCA 888 post beds and the VBS 669 narrow arm. In the Juki – Cometa series, the VCA 40 Mod. 02 XXS SD rotating XXS post bed, with compound feed.

2026 trend: luxury leather goods

Subcontracting for luxury brands is growing in Spain and Portugal, and their quality controls demand high-precision machines. We explain it in Trends 2026: Brother – Cometa for luxury leather goods.