Abstract: In the electrostatic application of a coating material on to a product to be coated, the product leaves a supply hopper over a tube enlargement and falls freely in a chamber in the form of a tubular curtain. The tubular curtain falls around a central, elongate, vertical corona discharge electrode so that a high voltage electrostatic charge of one sign is applied to the falling curtain of the product. Coating material is sprayed on to the product by atomizers in the chamber. A high voltage electrostatic charge of opposite sign is applied to the coating material by way of the atomizers.