Applicator devices for applying a surface covering to a part and methods for applying a surface covering to a part are disclosed. Disclosed applicator devices may include an inflatable bladder and a support structure configured to position the inflatable bladder with respect to the part and/or a support surface on which the part is positioned. The inflatable bladder may be used to apply the surface covering to the part, and may be configured to apply a uniform pressure to the surface covering and part, regardless of surface topography. The inflatable bladder may include a cover material at least partially covering the external bladder surface, which may be configured to reduce friction between the inflatable bladder and the surface covering. Such applicator devices may be particularly useful for, for example, applying a decorative laminate to a honeycomb core panel.

A method for transferring an adhesive onto a part intended to be glued on a carrier, the adhesive being in the form of a double-sided film including a separator on each face, the part including an internal concave portion that does not enable uniform application of the adhesive film once the separators have been removed. The method includes attaching the adhesive film to a punch that matches the shape of the part within a range that approximately corresponds to the thickness of the adhesive film; removing the separator from the side of the adhesive film that is to be attached to the part; setting the part on the punch covered with the adhesive film that has had its separator removed; and transferring the adhesive film onto the part by creating a vacuum between the part and the punch by means of a vacuum device.

A method for transferring an adhesive onto a part intended to be glued on a carrier, the adhesive being in the form of a double-sided film including a separator on each face, the part including an internal concave portion that does not enable uniform application of the adhesive film once the separators have been removed. The method includes attaching the adhesive film to a punch that matches the shape of the part within a range that approximately corresponds to the thickness of the adhesive film; removing the separator from the side of the adhesive film that is to be attached to the part; setting the part on the punch covered with the adhesive film that has had its separator removed; and transferring the adhesive film onto the part by creating a vacuum between the part and the punch by means of a vacuum device.

A method for transferring an adhesive onto a part intended to be glued on a carrier, the adhesive being in the form of a double-sided film including a separator on each face, the part including an internal concave portion that does not enable uniform application of the adhesive film once the separators have been removed. The method includes attaching the adhesive film to a punch that matches the shape of the part within a range that approximately corresponds to the thickness of the adhesive film; removing the separator from the side of the adhesive film that is to be attached to the part; setting the part on the punch covered with the adhesive film that has had its separator removed; and transferring the adhesive film onto the part by creating a vacuum between the part and the punch by means of a vacuum device.

A method for transferring an adhesive onto a part intended to be glued on a carrier, the adhesive being in the form of a double-sided film including a separator on each face, the part including an internal concave portion that does not enable uniform application of the adhesive film once the separators have been removed. The method includes attaching the adhesive film to a punch that matches the shape of the part within a range that approximately corresponds to the thickness of the adhesive film; removing the separator from the side of the adhesive film that is to be attached to the part; setting the part on the punch covered with the adhesive film that has had its separator removed; and transferring the adhesive film onto the part by creating a vacuum between the part and the punch by means of a vacuum device.

A method of producing vehicles includes coating a vehicle body with paint, drying the paint, mounting attachment parts on load-bearing components of the vehicle body that has been coated with the paint that has been dried, and applying an adhesive film including an adhesive layer to a surface of the vehicle body that has been coated with the paint that has been dried or at least one attachment part mounted thereon, wherein, to apply the adhesive film, the adhesive film is positioned between the surface and an elastic membrane with an automated system, and the elastic membrane is transformed in selected regions into a curved state with a convex and a concave side and is brought into contact with the surface with the convex side in front such that the adhesive layer of the adhesive film is pressed onto the surface by the membrane over the entire surface area.

Process for coating a preformed substrate (1), comprising providing a semi-finished product (2) comprising the preformed substrate (1) and a coating layer (3), providing a mould (4) comprising a first (5) and a second half-mould (6), the first half-mould (5) comprising an elastically deformable membrane (8) which at least partially forms a respective conformation surface (7), arranging the semi-finished product (2) on the second half-mould (6), putting under depression a fluid (11) acting on the membrane (8) to maintain the membrane (8) adherent to a main body (50) of the first half-mould, closing the mould (4) maintaining a free distance between the conformation surface (7) of the first half-mould (5) and the semi-finished product (2), pressurizing the fluid (11) to expand the membrane (8) towards the second half-mould (6) for compressing the semi-finished product, maintaining the membrane (8) in the second configuration, heating the semifinished product (2) for firmly fixing the preformed substrate (1) and the coating layer (3) to each other.

Process for coating a preformed substrate (1), comprising providing a semi-finished product (2) comprising the preformed substrate (1) and a coating layer (3), providing a mould (4) comprising a first (5) and a second half-mould (6), the first half-mould (5) comprising an elastically deformable membrane (8) which at least partially forms a respective conformation surface (7), arranging the semi-finished product (2) on the second half-mould (6), putting under depression a fluid (11) acting on the membrane (8) to maintain the membrane (8) adherent to a main body (50) of the first half-mould, closing the mould (4) maintaining a free distance between the conformation surface (7) of the first half-mould (5) and the semi-finished product (2), pressurizing the fluid (11) to expand the membrane (8) towards the second half-mould (6) for compressing the semi-finished product, maintaining the membrane (8) in the second configuration, heating the semifinished product (2) for firmly fixing the preformed substrate (1) and the coating layer (3) to each other.