Abstract: As in the case of the irradiation of plane materials, the production of an inert atmosphere for the radiation-curable coating plays a decisive role with regard to the operating costs and the quality of the resulting product in the case of the curing of shaped parts. The present invention shows that the production of an inert atmosphere with the aid of a vacuum/inert gas lock with subsequent feeding through the lock into a radiation chamber constitutes an inexpensive means of producing an inert atmosphere for shaped parts, since flushing of the radiation chamber 8 to 10 times before each irradiation operation, as was necessary in the past, is dispensed with.