Abstract: The disclosed principles prevent damage to ultrasonic welding assemblies when a sonotrode assembly is subjected to rigorous work conditions. The disclosed principles “decouple” the transducer from the direction of working displacement, using a transverse mounting arrangement, and drive the welding assembly at the nodal region to take advantage of the Poisson Effect. In one embodiment, an exemplary system comprises an ultrasonic transducer configured to convert electricity to generate ultrasonic waves, wherein the waves propagate along a first direction from the transducer. In addition, such a system may comprise a sonotrode having at least one ultrasonic welding surface and configured to receive the generated waves. The sonotrode is configured to stretch and compress in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, based on corresponding peaks and valleys of the waves when propagating along the second direction thereby oscillating the welding surface for an ultrasonic welding process.