Abstract: An apparatus for the automated tacking of small wear plates to the active faces of a shoulder or fin of a turboshaft engine blade which includes a manipulator for moving a blade from a station having a calibrating device onto a welding jig having means for supporting and holding the blade in position, a mechanism for removing a small plate from a magazine of such plates and transferring it into position on one of the active faces of the blade shoulder or fin, an earth electrode for contacting the blade, and a welding electrode for tack welding the plate to the face of the blade shouder. The welding jig is rotatable through 180.degree. to move the blade into a second tacking position and a mechanism is provided for turning every other small plate removed from the magazines through 180.degree. so that it is transferred into the second tacking position for being tack welded to the other active face of the blade shoulder. Operation of the apparatus is controlled automatically by a suitable control device.