Abstract: An industrial process oven is provided with a false outer skin spaced from the oven wall. A plurality of air currents are induced and estalished in a like plurality of air passages provided between the oven wall and the outer skin. As ambient air passes over the oven wall it is preheated. The preheated air from the plurality of air passages is collected in a transfer duct and conveyed to an oven heater where its temperature is further raised to a desired operating temperature.