Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling a clutch plate includes forming arcuate segments from a friction material sheet, applying the arcuate segments to the ring in a fixed location with a temporary adherent, preferably to define intermediate spaces between the arcuate segments, and bonding the arcuate segments to the annular ring surface to form an automatic transmission clutch plate. Preferably, a set of multiple arcuate segments with independent edge boundaries are applied in a single workstation, and one or more sets may be applied to each annular surface by appropriately indexing the ring with respect to the application equipment. Preferably, the arcuate segments are formed by stamping the segments from sheets, the cuttings arranged at closely spaced positions on the sheet to reduce friction material waste.