A system and method for welding edge seams at the edges of fabric is presented. A method begins by lowering a fabric pre-fold bar onto a piece of fabric. A pre-aligned portion of the fabric is pushed on top of the pre-fold bar so that the pre-fold bar is between the portion of fabric on top of the fabric pre-fold bar and other fabric below the pre-fold bar. The fabric on top of the fabric pre-fold bar is folded edge fabric and fabric not on top of the fabric pre-fold bar is not folded edge fabric. A folded edge is formed between these two sections of fabric. The method pinches some of the fabric at the folded end and then pulls the folded edge fabric off of the fabric pre-fold bar. After that, the method welds at least some of the folded edge fabric to the not folded edge fabric.

An apparatus includes upper and lower pressing tools arranged on platens that move relative to one another in a stroke direction. A slider unit moves in a direction transverse to the stroke direction, coordinated with the relative motion of the platens. In a retracted position the slider unit is displaced laterally from the lower pressing tool. In an active position the slider unit protrudes laterally over an edge portion of the lower pressing tool. Pressure actuators between the lower platen and the lower pressing tool apply an increased active pressing force on the lower pressing tool toward the upper pressing tool. Through the combined motions, the pressing tools press a laminated component including a cover layer on a substrate, and the slider unit folds and presses a protruding margin of the cover layer around an edge and onto a back surface of the substrate to form a folded-back rim.

A system for producing a continuous stream of elements of garments stream includes: a first fusing press to fuse the combination at a first temperature to form a first fused combination from a combination formed by a continuous fusible substrate on a continuous first substrate; at least one folder positioned to take the first fused combination from the first fusing press and to form a folded fused combination; and a second fusing press positioned to take the folded fused combination from the at least one folder and to form the continuous stream of elements of garments by pressing the folded fused combination at a second temperature. The second temperature is lower than the first temperature, and the continuous stream of elements of garments comprises multiple individual elements of multiple garments.

A method of making an airdam to be placed along the edge of a composite work piece during a curing process is disclosed. The method comprises forming a strip of peel ply, forming a strip of tacky putty, and automatically affixing the strip of tacky putty to the strip of peel ply without human assistance to form a laminate comprising at least one layer of peel ply and at least one layer of tacky putty.