An apparatus for placing an edge piece on a battery plate includes a feed mechanism which transports a strip of bendable plastic material. A bending mechanism forms this strip into an open top, U-shaped channel. A cutter cuts the channel into an edge piece having a length which is substantially equal to an edge of the battery plate which is to be covered. An in-feed conveyor transports a battery plate toward the edge piece, and a support mechanism supports the edge piece while the edge of the battery plate is inserted into it. The support mechanism then releases the edge piece so that it can travel out of the apparatus with the battery plate.