Abstract: A layer of quartz glass soot is deposited continuously on a substrate consisting of quartz glass grains with a lower degree of sintering activity than the quartz glass soot and the soot is sintered by passing it continuously through a heating zone to form a quartz glass strip which is severed to form plates. Apparatus for implementing the process includes a conveyor suitable for the transport of quartz glass grains; a loading device for the deposition of the quartz glass grains onto the conveyor; nozzles for depositing a layer of synthetic quartz glass soot on the quartz glass grains; and a heating unit to heat the layer.