A lamination head having bi-directional layup capability for laying up a composite laminate, the lamination head comprising: a material supply drum configured to support a material roll of backed material, the backed material comprising layup material backed by a backing layer; a first separation device and a second separation device respectively having a first horn and a second horn each movable between a separation device retracted position and a separation device extended position; a first compaction device and a second compaction device configured to alternately apply compaction pressure onto the layup material against a substrate at a layup material compaction point; wherein: when the first separation device is in the separation device extended position and the first horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the first compaction device, the first horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the first compaction device as the lamination head moves along a first direction of travel; and when the second separation device is in the separation device extended position and the second horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the second compaction device, the second horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the second compaction device as the lamination head moves along a second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel. a material supply drum configured to support a material roll of backed material, the backed material comprising layup material backed by a backing layer; a first separation device and a second separation device respectively having a first horn and a second horn each movable between a separation device retracted position and a separation device extended position; a first compaction device and a second compaction device configured to alternately apply compaction pressure onto the layup material against a substrate at a layup material compaction point; wherein: when the first separation device is in the separation device extended position and the first horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the first compaction device, the first horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the first compaction device as the lamination head moves along a first direction of travel; and when the second separation device is in the separation device extended position and the second horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the second compaction device, the second horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the second compaction device as the lamination head moves along a second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel. when the first separation device is in the separation device extended position and the first horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the first compaction device, the first horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the first compaction device as the lamination head moves along a first direction of travel; and when the second separation device is in the separation device extended position and the second horn is in close proximity to the layup material compaction point associated with the second compaction device, the second horn is configured to cause the layup material to separate from the backing layer and direct the layup material toward the substrate and underneath the second compaction device as the lamination head moves along a second direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.