The process for applying a thermally attached lubricating coating on an interior wall of a cylindrical medicinal container includes applying a thermally attachable lubricant to an interior wall of the container; uniformly spreading or homogenizing the applied lubricant on the wall to form a lubricating coating and thermally attaching the lubricating coating by irradiating the lubricating coating with infrared radiation selectively in a cylindrical region of the container at elevated temperatures above a maximum operating temperature of the container. The apparatus for performing the process includes an insertable spraying device for applying the thermally attachable lubricant (3) to the interior wall of the container (1) from a supply reservoir; a device for homogenizing the lubricant to form the lubricating coating (4) and a rod-shaped infrared radiation source (5) insertable into an interior space of the container. The radiation source has a radiation screen (5a, 6, 7) for keeping the radiation away from the container outlet.