In order to produce plastic bags (1) a laid-flat tubular film web (4) is moved forward by means of a transport device (3) in the longitudinal direction and is divided by means of a longitudinal severance device (6) into two tubular film half webs (10) by an undulating longitudinal severance cut (9) producing complementary bag handle areas (2). Said tubular film half webs are separated by subsequent transverse welds (13) of a transverse welding device (8) into the plastic bags (1). Before separation, reinforcing film strips (16) are glued onto both sides of the tubular film web (4) in the region of the subsequent bag handle areas (2) in a reinforcing film strip feed device (5) having a supply and unwinding station (15), a gluing station (16) and a pressure station (17). In this arrangement, the lowest possible amount of material is consumed if the reinforcing film strips (14) in the form of rectangular film sections (18) which are smaller than the longitudinal dimensions of the bag handle areas (2) are stuck onto the tubular film web (4) which is advanced intermittently and for this purpose the transport device (3) is arranged for intermittent advance of the tubular film web (4) and the pressure station (17) comprises two pressure units (19) arranged one behind the other and actuable perpendicular to the tubular film web (4) and having a cutting tool (20). <IMAGE>
