Method of forming a seal, method of manufacturing a sealed unit, a sealed unit, and apparatus for forming a seal

An apparatus for forming a seal, comprising:

• a deposition unit configured to deposit a sealer material along a seal path on a first panel;
• a panel handler configured to move either or both of the first panel and the second panel so that the first panel and second panel are brought into a facing configuration in which the sealer material is in contact with the first panel and the second panel along all of a seal path;
• a first heating unit configured to heat metal particles derived from the sealer material along the seal path, while the sealer material is in contact with the first panel and the second panel along all of the seal path, to cause fusing of the metal particles along the seal path;
• and
• a second heating unit configured to provide a continuous weld along the seal path between the fused metal particles and the first panel and between the fused metal particles and the second panel, thereby generating a seal along the seal path,
• wherein the second heating unit comprises a laser configured to provide the continuous weld.