News

On Friday, 2026-09-04, the former General Secretary of the European retreader’s association BIPAVER, Ruud Spuijbroek, passed by. Ruud served as General Secretary of BIPAVER from 2005 to 2017, alongside his role as Managing Director of VACO, the trade association for the tyre and wheel sector in the Netherlands. When he retired from VACO, he also stepped down from his position as General Secretary of BIPAVER. During his twelve years of dedicated service, Ruud played a decisive role in shaping BIPAVER into the recognized European industry association it is today. With his commitment, his extensive knowledge and his strong belief in the importance of retreading, he ensured that the voice of the retreading industry was heard clearly in Brussels. In the European retreading sector, Ruud will always be remembered as a warm, approachable and highly respected colleague and friend. „Our thoughts are with Ruud’s family, friends and former colleagues during this difficult time.“, says Yorick M. Lowin, the current General Secretary of BIPAVER.