Abstract: The invention relates to a wedge-shaped heating element (or heating wedge) for an apparatus for contact welding of plastic films or plastic sheets (2, 3) and to a method for producing it. In order to provide that the heating element (1) is usable for different plastic materials and has high strength, high abrasion resistance, and high temperature and thermal shock resistance to approximately 800° C., as well as corrosion resistance to the chemical factors that occur in welding various polymer materials, the invention proposes that a ceramic material be used as the material for the heating element (1).