Desiree and Zünd: combining technology and craftsmanship in premium upholstery manufacturing

“Quality combined with efficiency and reliability leads to excellence. That’s what we found by choosing Zünd as our partner.” With these words, Luigi Lucchetta, Product Manager at  Desiree, a manufacturer of high-end upholstered furniture and part of the Euromobil Group since 1995, opens a video interview  that explores a journey of technological evolution and highlights the value of a partnership built over time through shared experience, dialog, and the pursuite of increasingly effective solutions.

Based in Tezze di Piave in the province of Treviso, Desiree produces sofas, armchairs, beds, and home furnishings that embody a design philosophy rooted in comfort, elegance, and innovation. The high-end quality stems from a combination of aesthetic research, careful material selection, and meticulous craftsmanship, all within a production process that is entirely Made in Italy. In this context, the quality of leather cutting represents a critical factor in the manufacturing process.

As Marina Merotto, Head of Quality Control and Leather Processing, who joined Desiree in 2006, explains that cutting was initially performed entirely by hand. The need to find a more advanced solution led the company to seek technology capable of meeting its production requirements while maintaining its high-quality standards. The Zünd G3 2XL-3200 was chosen for its outstanding reliability and precision.

The adoption of Zünd technology has helped transform the cutting process by combining digital tools with human expertise. At Desiree, the leather processing workflow is now divided into three main stages:

1. Digital capture of each hide using Mind Diva for defect detection, grading, and generation of a unique identification code
2. Creation of a nesting layout that optimizes part placement based on the hide's characteristics
3. Cutting with Zünd G3,with the nesting layout retrieved via barcode and the part placement projected onto the hide The integration of these stages supports the operators, improves workflow organization, and helps optimize the use of each hide based on its unique characteristics.

This is where one of the most interesting aspects of Desiree's approach emerges: automation does not replace operator expertise, but rather complements and enhances it.

At first, the introduction of an automated machine raised understandable concerns: the loss of direct contact with the material and the judgment developed through years of experience. Leather is a material that requires careful inspection and the ability to assess its unique characteristics. What is evident to the eye does not always correspond to what is perceived through touch. Furthermore, a characteristic considered a defect in one context may become a valuable feature in another. 

Digital tools and human expertise are complementary. The machine supports the process, while human experience remains crucial for interpreting the material’s unique qualities and making informed decisions. Technology and human expertise reinforce one another and evolve together.

For Desiree, choosing Zünd meant more than introducing a new technology. It marked the beginning of a collaborative relationship built on the exchange of ideas, shared experience, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This partnership addresses operational needs through ongoing dialog while drawing on the expertise and experience of both organizations. Desiree’s experience shows how technological innovation can support the evolution of production processes without losing sight of what distinguishes quality craftsmanship: deep knowledge of the material, the expertise of the people involved, and a focus on the final result.

For Zünd, working alongside its customers means exactly this: developing long-term relationships, understanding their production requirements, and providing solutions that help improve day-to-day operations. After all, excellence does not stem from technology alone, but from the combination of innovation, expertise, and collaboration.