Abstract: A method for joining structural elements by heating of a binder, e.g., to form panel assemblies for automobiles, including applying to a first structural element a binder at locations thereof intended to form bonding contact with corresponding locations on a second structural element, mating the second structural element with the first structural element, and hemming an outer edge of the first structural element about a corresponding edge of the second structural element to make the binder contact upper and lower faces of corresponding edges. The combination of the first and second structural elements is brought into contact with a plurality of heating elements at selected, spaced apart spots along an outer edge of the combination. Heat energy is applied at the spots to form a spot bonding between the first and second structural elements thereat by curing the binder at the spots.