AbstractThe paper reviews the operation of pneumatic and rotary dryers in the starch industry, and considers the ways in which energy can be saved. These include, careful operation, and direct firing where suitable, but the most effective means of reducing the energy consumption is to keep the exhaust loss to a minimum by recycling gases. This is discussed in detail, and also the use of multi‐stage dryers for heat economy and pollution control, especially in feed drying for the corn industry. Some more advanced ideas for use of dryers for saving energy are also discussed, including the use of boiler flue gases to heat feed dryers, which can be extremely valuable recuperation of energy in a starch plant. Other suggested methods of heat saving are discussed with a view to considering their practical application and making some clear suggestions as to the most cost effective way of minimising energy consumption in drying processe