Abstract: An energy efficient method of drying and curing insulation on wire, especially magnet wire, is disclosed. Heated gases are used separately to dry and cure a curable insulating coating such as a phenolic resin. Gases exhausted from the drying and curing operations and containing volatile combustible materials evolved from the drying and curing of the coating, is passed to a heat exchanger where they pick up heat from the exhaust gases of a fume burner. The hot gases are then passed to the fume burner where the combustible materials are burned to add heat of combustion to the gas stream, which is then cycled back as the fume burner exhaust through the heat exchanger, mixed with air, and passed to the drying section of the wire oven. This recapture of the heat from the combustion provides the heat needed for drying of the coating, thus maximizing the energy efficiency of the process. Apparatus to perform the process is also disclosed.