An embodiment for disposing a sleeve (601) on a fluid conduit (610) includes positioning a sleeve through lead rollers (105-107), pressing sleeve edges to flatten the sleeve against its normal geometry, aligning the flattened sleeve with opposing guide channels (114, 115) defined in an passage through a sleeve guide (101), feeding the sleeve through the passage, and compressing the sleeve in the passage, letting the edges of the sleeve ride against the guide channels to open the sleeve. A length of the compressed sleeve exiting the guide may be cut using a heated device (615) that fuses the sleeve material, leaving the sleeve clear to receive a fluid conduit. A collar may be disposed around an end of the cut sleeve and over the conduit, then compressed, with an end of the sleeve captured between the collar and end of the conduit. This compressing may employ special dies to define raised portion(s) in the collar.