A heat shield arrangement (12) for a roller table (2) comprising respective upper and lower series of heat shield panels (32, 34, 36, 18) above and below a hot material path (42) along the table. The lower series of panels (18) includes at least one panel that is displaceable to permit a greater radiation loss from a central region of the path (42) than from laterally outer regions to each side of the central region. The upper series of panels includes at least one central panel (34) and at least two laterally outer panels (32, 36) on opposite sides of said central panel (34), the outer panels (32, 36) being suspended from a primary support structure (26) and said central panel (34) being suspended from an auxiliary support structure (30) displaceable relative to the primary support structure (26) to raise said central panel (34) relative to the outer panels (32, 36). By these means a more uniform lateral temperature profile can be obtained even for thick transfer bars.