A method and apparatus for heating a sheet-like material to a predetermined temperature profile along the length and across the width of the material. The sheet-like material is transported within a furnace relative to at least one burner holder above or below, or above and below, the material. Each burner holder includes a number of direct flame impingement burners located side-by-side in a row. The burners are directed toward the sheet-like material, and the individual burners in each burner holder are oriented and controlled so that heat output from the burners provides the predetermined temperature profile within the sheet-like material.