Heat staking can be either hot stake or hot air/cold stake.

In hot stake welding, a hot metal tool is brought into contact with a plastic stake to weld together parts.

In hot air / cold stake welding, hot air is applied to the parts, withdrawn, then pressure applied with a cold metal tool to weld together parts.

The machine pictured is a multiple hot air / cold stake welding machine for automotive engine covers.

Multi-head staking machine with HMI - automatic

Double-head heat staking machine - automatic

Single-head heat staking machine - automatic

Single-head heat staking machine - manual