This paper was presented to the Conference on Wood Protection held in Sarajevo (Yugoslavia) in 1973. The paper was based partially on the report prepared by J. Struhar and G. F. Franciosi, who were appointed in 1972 as FAO consultants to demonstrate the new impregnation process for green beech sleepers in Yugoslavia. The so-called 4-cycle method was developed at the State Forest Research Institute in Bratislava (Czechoslovakia). The demonstration treatment was carried out at the Kolasin plant, where the double Rueping method is currently used. Comparing the double Rueping method with the 4-cycle method, the author discusses the possibility of introducing the new method into existing impregnation plants in Yugoslavia. Analysis has shown that the production costs of impregnated beech sleepers under the new method would cost 44 Dinars per m³ more for sleepers, or 530,000 Dinars annually (based on the Kolasin plant capacity). On the other hand, formation of tyloses and doat in "white" sleepers during seasoning, estimated to be 10%, would be completely avoided, saving 972,000 Dinars annually at the Kolasin plant. Besides the stock of untreated sleepers would be considerably reduced which would enable the saving of working capital at the Kolasin plant of about 2,5 mill of Dinars. It is also expected that due to higher creosote oil consumption and its even spreading through the wood, the service life of sleepers would be extended by 10 years (from 30 to 40). In such a way the Yugoslavian Railways would decrease the purchasing and installation costs by about 10 Dinars per m³ of sleepers or 1,270,000 Dinars annually (in 1972 USA$ 1 equalled 15 Dinars).

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