With reference to a device for heating a meltable material, such as plastic, upstream from equipment for further processing, such as casting or extrusion equipment, which device includes a conveyor channel for the material and a heating means located outside the conveyor channel, the heating means being designed as a radiant heating means and the thermal radiation being directed onto the conveyor channel, the invention proposes that the conveyor channel consist of a material which completely or partially absorbs the thermal radiation.