Abstract: An apparatus for heating preforms made of thermoplastic material includes a conveyance device for preforms having a longitudinal axis of extension intended to move the preforms along a predefined path. The apparatus further includes a heating component arranged along at least one portion of the predefined path. The heating component includes at least one heating element and at least one front reflective element, which are mutually opposite with respect to the predefined path in order to form between them a transit tunnel for the preforms. The heating element includes IR (Infra-Red) and/or NIR (Near-Infra-Red) lamps. The front reflective element includes at least one contoured plate-like body in order to form, in the direction of extension of the predefined path, an alternation of closer portions and spaced portions with respect to the predefined path that is extended substantially parallel to the axes of extension of the preforms.