Abstract: An apparatus for applying a thin film of a liquid coating medium onto a curved surface of an article includes a receptacle for the article, a rotatably drivable turntable on which the receptacle is held and a nonrotatable process pot surrounding the receptacle and the turntable. A spray ring surrounds the surface to be coated and is retained at the open end of the process pot. It defines a central inflow opening. Several annular gaps are defined and the receptacle is provided with a suction cone. A laminar flow is aimed at the spray ring at the top of the process pot and the bottom of the process pot is joined to a suction flow.