An ultrasonic welding apparatus that includes a full-wave sonotrode that further includes a first horn, a first nodal region, a welding surface, a second nodal region, and a second horn; first and second bearing assemblies that support the sonotrode at the first and second nodal regions respectively, wherein each bearing assembly further includes a first bearing housing portion; a first low friction bearing disposed within the first bearing housing portion; a second bearing housing portion connected to the first bearing housing portion; and a second low friction bearing disposed within the second bearing housing portion; a first centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the horn of the full-wave sonotrode; and a second centering apparatus that exerts laterally-acting force on the second horn of the full-wave sonotrode.