Abstract: To assemble nuclear fuel bundle spacers comprised of a multiplicity of rod-positioning ferrules, automated apparatus is provided comprising an indexing table mounting a plurality of identical, angularly spaced ferrule fixtures which are successively positioned at a first station for receipt of a pair of properly oriented ferrules. The table is indexed to present the ferrule pairs in turn to a second station where a spring is loaded in pre-assembly relation thereto. At the next table index position, a third station manipulates the successive fixture-mounted ferrule pairs to interlock the spring with each ferrule pair as a subasssembly which is then indexed in turn to a fourth station for assembly into a spacer fixture.