A process of manufacturing a spacer element for spaced heat exchange tubes of a heat exchanger in which the tubes are of elliptical cross section and arranged in rows and columns. In the process a band of stranded interwoven fine wires are wound between and on the surfaces of the spaced heat exchange tubes and is fused to the tubes at the regions of contact therewith by a heating operation to form a spacer for holding the tubes in spaced relation. The heating operation can be carried out by heating the tubes and band in an oven, either in a vacuum or with a protective gas.