A pin oven for stoving a decorative or other coating laid down by a rotary decorator (28˝) on cans has an associated transfer device (40˝) by which the cans are decelerated and transferred in succession from the decorator onto the chain (20˝) of the oven. The chain carries two rows of pins which are arranged in staggered and offset relation. By operating at a smaller chain circulating speed than the can output velocity of the decorator, the oven provides benefits in the size and thermal efficiency of the oven and reduced chain wear.