A contact heating device for thermally induced (materially cohesive) seam bonding of weldable and/or gluable flat flexible material layers with each other, which are configured as a material web, a material band and/or a material piece and are arranged at least partially overlapping, is provided, the contact heating device comprising: a first terminal electrode and a second terminal electrode; and a heating element connected between the terminal electrodes; wherein the heating element is configured as a directly energized, flat, planar sheet steel blank. The present invention further relates to an automatic welding or joining machine, a hand-held device and a method.

A method and apparatus for deploying a tubular body onto a surface. The apparatus includes a main body movable in an advancing direction. The apparatus includes a deployment mechanism that deploys a tubular body directly onto a surface. The apparatus includes at least one container that stores an uncured protectant. The container is mounted on the main body. The apparatus may include a second container that stores a second protectant. The second protectant is different than the uncured protectant. The apparatus includes at least one curing device, which can cure the uncured protectant after the uncured protectant is applied to surface.