Abstract: A dryer apparatus and a drying method are set forth for drying an object coated with a solvent which volatilizes to form a VOC. The object is fed through an enclosure. It is heated to volatilize the VOC while it is in the enclosure. A catalytic oxidation unit is provided which oxidizes substantially all VOCs which flow through it. A VOC containing first gas from the enclosure is introduced to an upstream end of a catalytic oxidation zone in the catalytic oxidation unit. A substantially VOC free second gas is led away from a downstream end of the catalytic oxidation zone. Heat is exchanged between the hot second gas and the first gas. The first gas is pumped from a first location in the enclosure and impelled into and through the oxidation unit. A sufficient portion of the second gas is impelled into the surrounding atmosphere to maintain a pressure below that of the surrounding atmosphere within both the oxidation unit and the dryer enclosure.