The present invention relates to a coating plant, especially a vacuum coating plant, with a charging lock, especially a rectangular vacuum lock for a coating chamber, with a lock aperture (13) having a length of at least 1000 mm that comprises a shutter (6) for closing and opening the lock aperture and a latch (7) to secure the shutter, wherein there are provided means for moving the shutter and the latch from a first open position to a second closed position, and vice versa, these means assuring also that the movements of the shutter (6) and the latch (7) will be coupled with each other in such manner that the shutter (6) will be automatically secured by the latch (7) after the shutter has been closed and will be released again before it is opened.