A bonding press for cementing shoe soles to lasted uppers. A shoe support plate has an opening to receive the lasted shoe upper with the sole placed thereon. The lasted shoe upper is supported on a last support. A rigid press hood closed on the underside by a soft membrane, is selectively movable to a position to apply pressure to the sole in place on the upper. A control system has switching members for moving, releasing and filling the press hood with compressed air and venting the same. The control system also includes a switching valve adapted to be actuated by insertion of the shoe in the opening formed in the shoe support. The actuators and other elements of the system for controlling the movable press components are controlled by programmable control unit.