A powder processing arrangement for use in an apparatus for producing three-dimensional work pieces by selectively irradiating a raw material powder with electromagnetic or particle radiation, the powder processing arrangement comprising: - a carrier element having a build section adapted to carry a raw material powder layer while being selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation and at least one transfer section (48a, 48b) adapted to carry the raw material powder prior to being applied to the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation, - a heating device adapted to pre-heat the raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element prior to being applied to the build section of the carrier element so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation, wherein the heating device comprises a heating element (52a, 52b) integrated into the carrier element in the region of the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element, - a powder application device which is adapted to apply the raw material powder to the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element, wherein the powder application device is movable across the carrier element and is provided with a slider which allows raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element to be transferred to the build section of the carrier element and to be distributed on the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation on the build section by moving the powder application device across the carrier element, and - a control unit which is adapted to control the operation of the powder application device in such a manner that the raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element is transferred to the build section of the carrier element and distributed across the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation on the build section only after the raw material powder, while being carried by and left on the transfer section (48a, 48b), has been pre-heated by the heating device to a desired temperature. - a carrier element having a build section adapted to carry a raw material powder layer while being selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation and at least one transfer section (48a, 48b) adapted to carry the raw material powder prior to being applied to the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation, - a heating device adapted to pre-heat the raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element prior to being applied to the build section of the carrier element so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation, wherein the heating device comprises a heating element (52a, 52b) integrated into the carrier element in the region of the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element, - a powder application device which is adapted to apply the raw material powder to the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element, wherein the powder application device is movable across the carrier element and is provided with a slider which allows raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element to be transferred to the build section of the carrier element and to be distributed on the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation on the build section by moving the powder application device across the carrier element, and - a control unit which is adapted to control the operation of the powder application device in such a manner that the raw material powder carried by the transfer section (48a, 48b) of the carrier element is transferred to the build section of the carrier element and distributed across the build section so as to form the raw material powder layer to be selectively irradiated with electromagnetic or particle radiation on the build section only after the raw material powder, while being carried by and left on the transfer section (48a, 48b), has been pre-heated by the heating device to a desired temperature.