A system for coating articles which includes a coating booth, a conveyor system, which guides the articles through the coating booth, and at least one application unit, which is carried and guided by a handling device. A central supply unit having a tank for storing CO2 in liquid or solid form and which is able to remove CO2 from the tank and supply it at a suitable pressure to a collecting line connected to at least one cleaning apparatus, which includes at least one nozzle of suitable design for delivering CO2 for cleaning purposes. Under program control a relative movement between the nozzle and the application unit is induced, such that all surfaces of the application unit to be cleaned can be reached by CO2.