Vacuum-mounted clamp

A vacuum-mounted clamp for use during manufacture of a product having a first frame and a first panel connected together and a second frame and a second panel connected together, the clamp comprising:

• a substantially rigid body having an application face, a back face opposite the application face, a first side extending between the faces, and a second side extending between the faces opposite the first side, the application face having a step adjacent each of the first and second sides for engaging said first and second frames, respectively, during operation of the clamp, and a vacuum port extending between the faces;
• a flexible seal connected to the rigid body adjacent the application, the seal having a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum port in the rigid body and a periphery for selectively contacting the first and second panels to respectively create a first vacuum area between the clamp and first panel and a second vacuum area between the clamp and the second panel when clamping the first frame to the first panel and the second frame to the second panel;
• wherein the clamp is operatively connectable to a vacuum generator for selectively creating a vacuum in the vacuum areas.