Abstract: A programmable computer-controlled fast response infrared heating system capable of precise individual zone control and especially useful for thermoforming of plastic sheets comprises an array of fast response quartz heaters on a platen, a terminal box having a CPU and mounted on and moving with the platen and which needs only one power line to it and which distributes the power to the heaters sequentially on a milli-second time basis with an essentially constant power output to each heater. The power is three phase and switching occurs only when the voltage over a relay is zero to minimize RFI/EMI emissions. The CPU is interfaced with a general purpose computer at the operator's console and a touch activated display showing the percent of available power being supplied to each heater. The operator by touch command can change the percentage of applied power for any one heater or the total power supplied to the whole of the array.