a method of manufacturing a metal - plastic hybrid heat exchanger including the steps of providing a plurality of metallic fins , providing a plastic tank with a melting point above a predetermined temperature and having a header plate that includes a plurality slots , and providing a plurality of plastic tubes with a melting point above the predetermined temperature . the plastic tubes are inserted into the corresponding slots of the plastic tank to form an assembly . the metal fins are inserted between the plastic tubes of the assembly . a thermoplastic adhesive is applied onto the mating surfaces of the metal fins and the plastic tubes , and onto mating surfaces of the slots and the plastic tubes of the assembly . the metal plastic heat exchanger assembly is then heated with infrared radiation to the predetermined temperature to cure the thermoplastic adhesive , thereby bonding the metal fins and the slotted headers to the tubes .