Privacy policy

  1. General information and principles of data processing

We are pleased that you are visiting our website. The protection of your privacy and the protection of your personal data, so-called personal data, when using our website is an important concern for us.

According to Art. 4 No. 1 GDPR, personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes, for example, information such as your first and last name, your address, your telephone number, your e-mail address, but also your IP address.

Data for which no reference to your person can be established, for example through anonymization, is not personal data. Processing (e.g. collection, storage, retrieval, consultation, use, transmission, erasure or destruction) in accordance with Art. 4 No. 2 GDPR always requires a legal basis or your consent. Processed personal data must be deleted as soon as the purpose of the processing has been achieved and there are no longer any statutory retention obligations to be complied with.

Here you will find information about how we handle your personal data when you visit our website. In order to provide the functions and services of our website, it is necessary for us to collect personal data about you.

We also explain to you the type and scope of the respective data processing, the purpose and the corresponding legal basis and the respective storage period.

This privacy policy only applies to this website. It does not apply to other websites to which we merely refer by means of a hyperlink. We cannot accept any responsibility for the confidential handling of your personal data on these third-party websites, as we have no influence on whether these companies comply with data protection regulations. For information on how these companies handle your personal data, please visit these websites directly.

  1. Responsible body

Responsible for the processing of personal data on this website is (see imprint):

  1. Provision and use of the website/ server log files

a) Type and scope of data processing

If you use this website without transmitting data to us in any other way (e.g. by registering or using the contact form), we collect technically necessary data via server log files, which are automatically transmitted to our server, e.g:

  • IP address
  • Date and time of the request
  • Name and URL of the retrieved file
  • Website from which the access is made (referrer URL)
  • Access status/HTTP status code
  • Browser type
  • Language and version of the browser software
  • Operating system

b) Purpose and legal basis

This processing is technically necessary in order to display our website to you. We also use the data to ensure the security and stability of our website.

The legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR. The processing of the aforementioned data is necessary for the provision of a website and thus serves to safeguard a legitimate interest of our company.

c) Storage period

As soon as this personal data is no longer required to display the website, it will be deleted. The collection of data for the provision of the website and the storage of data in log files is absolutely necessary for the operation of the website. Consequently, there is no possibility for the user to object to this aspect. Further storage may take place in individual cases if this is required by law.

  1. Use of cookies

a) Type, scope and purpose of data processing

We use cookies. Cookies are small files that are sent by us to the browser of your end device and stored there when you visit our website.

Some functions of our website cannot be offered without the use of technically necessary cookies. Other cookies, on the other hand, enable us to carry out various analyses. For example, some cookies can recognize the browser you are using when you visit our website again and transmit various information to us. We use cookies to facilitate and improve the use of our website. Among other things, cookies enable us to make our website more user-friendly and effective for you, for example by tracking your use of our website and determining your preferred settings (e.g. country and language settings). If third parties process information via cookies, they collect the information directly via your browser. However, cookies do not cause any damage to your end device. They cannot run programs or contain viruses. Various types of cookies are used on our website, the nature and function of which are explained below.

Temporary cookies/session cookies

Our website uses so-called temporary cookies or session cookies, which are automatically deleted as soon as you close your browser. This type of cookie makes it possible to record your session ID. This allows various requests from your browser to be assigned to a common session and makes it possible to recognize your device when you visit the website later.

Permanent cookies

So-called permanent cookies are used on our website. Persistent cookies are cookies that are stored in your browser for a longer period of time and can transmit information. The respective storage period differs depending on the cookie. You can delete permanent cookies yourself via your browser settings.

Third-party cookies

We use analytical cookies to monitor anonymized user behavior on our website.

We also use advertising cookies. These cookies can be used to track user behavior for advertising and targeted marketing purposes.

Social media cookies make it possible to establish a connection to your social networks and to share content from our website within your networks.

Configuration of the browser settings

Most web browsers are preset to accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that it only accepts certain cookies or no cookies at all. However, we would like to point out that you may then no longer be able to use all the functions of our website.

You can also use your browser settings to delete cookies already stored in your browser. It is also possible to set your browser to notify you before cookies are stored. As the various browsers may differ in their respective functions, we ask you to use the respective help menu of your browser for the corresponding configuration options.

Deactivating the use of cookies may require the storage of a permanent cookie on your computer. If you subsequently delete this cookie, you must deactivate it again.

b) Legal basis

Due to the purposes of use described, the legal basis for the processing of personal data using cookies is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR. If you have given us your consent to the use of cookies on the basis of a notice (“cookie banner”) provided by us on the website, the legal basis is additionally Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

c) Storage period

As soon as the data transmitted to us via the cookies is no longer required for the purposes described above, this information is deleted. Further storage may take place in individual cases if this is required by law.

d) Google Analytics

Some of our websites use Google Analytics to analyze and improve their use.

Google Analytics is a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will be shortened by Google beforehand within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The legal basis for the processing of data with the help of Google Analytics is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.

You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser, however please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link:

http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de

We use Google Analytics with the extension “_anonymizeIp()”. This shortens the IP addresses (so-called IP masking). A reference to specific persons can therefore be ruled out. Google participates in the EU-US Privacy Shield, https://www.privacyshield.gov/EU-US-Framework. This means that even in the exceptional cases in which Google transfers personal data to the USA, there is an adequate level of data protection.

Information about Google: Google Dublin, Google Ireland Ltd, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Fax: +353 (1) 436 1001

More information on Google’s terms of use:

www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html

More information on data protection from Google:

www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/privacyoverview.html

  1. Data collection for the implementation of pre-contractual measures and for contract fulfillment

a) Type and scope of data processing

We collect personal data about you in the pre-contractual area and when the contract is concluded. This concerns, for example, first and last name, address, e-mail address, telephone number or bank details.

b) Purpose and legal basis of data processing

We collect and process this data exclusively for the purpose of executing the contract or fulfilling pre-contractual obligations.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit b) GDPR. If you have also given your consent, the additional legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

c) Storage period

The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose of its processing.

There may also be statutory retention obligations, for example commercial or tax retention obligations under the German Commercial Code (HGB) or the German Fiscal Code (AO). If such retention obligations exist, we will block or delete your data at the end of these retention obligations.

  1. Order form

An order form is available on our website, which can be used for electronic pre-orders.

a) Type and scope of data processing

Our data collection is limited to the following data:

  • First and last name
  • Phone number
  • E-mail address
  • Account details
  • Name of the product

b) Purpose and legal basis

The purpose of data processing is to enable us to process your order properly.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR. The processing of the data serves the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of a pre-contractual measure, which has taken place at the request of the data subject.

c) Storage period

The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose of processing.

There may also be statutory retention obligations, for example commercial or tax retention obligations under the German Commercial Code (HGB) or the German Fiscal Code (AO). If such retention obligations exist, we will block or delete your data at the end of these retention obligations.

  1. Registration option

a) Type and scope of data processing

You can register on our website. When you register, we collect and store the data you enter in the input mask (e.g. surname, first name, e-mail address). It will not be passed on to third parties.

b) Purpose and legal basis of data processing

Your registration is required for the use of certain content and services on our website or for the fulfillment of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. After registration, you are free to change the personal data provided during registration at any time or to have it completely deleted from the controller’s database.

The legal basis for processing in the case of consent is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a)
DS-GVO. If your registration serves to prepare the conclusion of a contract, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR additional legal basis.

c) Storage period

The data collected during registration will be stored by us for as long as you are registered on our website and will then be deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected. In addition, your registered personal data will be deleted if you

  1. Data transmission

We only pass on your personal data to third parties if:

a) you have given your express consent to this in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) DS-GVO have given.

b) this is legally permissible and in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR is necessary for the fulfillment of a contractual relationship with you or the implementation of pre-contractual measures.

c) pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c) GDPR, there is a legal obligation for the transfer.

We are legally obliged to transmit data to state authorities, e.g. tax authorities, social security institutions, health insurance funds, supervisory authorities and law enforcement agencies.

d) the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the company or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding legitimate interest in the non-disclosure of your data.

e) in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR, we use external service providers as processors who have been obliged to handle your data with care.

We use such service providers in the following areas:

  • IT
  • Logistics
  • Telecommunications

When transferring data to external bodies in third countries, i.e. outside the EU or the EEA, we ensure that these bodies treat your personal data with the same care as within the EU or the EEA. We only transfer personal data to third countries where the EU Commission has confirmed an adequate level of protection or where we ensure the careful handling of personal data through contractual agreements or other suitable guarantees.

9th application option

a) Type and scope of data processing

You can apply on our website or by e-mail. When you apply, we collect and store the data that you enter in the input mask or that you send us by e-mail.

b) Purpose and legal basis
We only process your data for the purpose of processing your application.
It will not be passed on to third parties. The legal basis for the processing is Art. 88 para. 1 DS-GVO i.V.m. § Section 26 BDSG and additionally Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR.

If you give us your consent to include you in our applicant pool, the legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

c) Storage period

If we are unable to offer you a position, we will store your data for a maximum of six months after the end of the application process in accordance with Section 61b para. 1 ArbGG in conjunction with. § SECTION 15 AGG. The deadline begins with the receipt of the rejection letter.

If you have given us your consent to include you in our applicant pool, we will store your data for a maximum of two years.

d) Data transfer

Your data will only be received by the departments involved in the decision (responsible HR or specialist departments, management, works council).

We are also obliged to transmit your data to public bodies and institutions (e.g. public prosecutor’s office, police, supervisory authorities, tax office, social security institutions, etc.).

Other data recipients may be those bodies for which you have given us your consent to transfer data.

  1. Comment function

a) Type and scope of data processing

You can comment on articles on our website. When you comment on a post, we collect and store the data you enter in the input mask. In addition to the comments you leave, details of the time you entered the comment and any user name (pseudonym) you have chosen will also be stored and published. The IP address assigned by the data subject’s Internet service provider (ISP) is also stored. It will not be passed on to third parties.

b) Purpose and legal basis

The data transmitted by you (e.g. the IP address) is used for security reasons and in the event that the person concerned violates the rights of third parties or posts illegal content through a comment.

This collected personal data will not be passed on to third parties unless such a transfer is required by law or serves the legal defense of the controller.

The legal basis for the processing of personal data transmitted when using the comment function is, if and insofar as you have given your consent, Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR. You can revoke this consent at any time. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

Another legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR.

We have a legitimate interest in processing if the rights of third parties are infringed or illegal content is posted. This is for security reasons in case someone writes illegal content in comments and posts (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.)

c) Storage period

The comments and the associated data (e.g. IP address) are stored and remain on our website until the commented content has been completely deleted or the comments have to be deleted for legal reasons.

  1. Contact form

a) Type and scope of data processing

On our website, we offer you the opportunity to contact us using a form provided. As part of the process of sending your request via the contact form, reference is made to this privacy policy to obtain your consent.

If you make use of the contact form, the following personal data will be processed by you:

  • Salutation
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Company
  • Industry
  • Function
  • Street
  • Street number
  • Zip code
  • Location
  • Country
  • E-mail address
  • Phone number
  • Subject
  • Content of the message
  • Attachments

b) Purpose and legal basis

The purpose of providing your e-mail address is to send you an answer to your request by e-mail. When using the contact form, your personal data will not be passed on to third parties.

The legal basis for the processing is consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR on the declaration of consent voluntarily given by you below and revocable at any time for the future:

c) Storage period

We will retain the data you provide on the contact form until you request its deletion, revoke your consent for its storage, or the purpose for its storage no longer pertains (e.g. after fulfilling your request).

Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular retention periods in accordance with the German Commercial Code (HGB) or the German Fiscal Code (AO) – remain unaffected by this.

  1. Contact options by e-mail

You can contact us by e-mail on our website.

a) Type and scope of data processing

You can contact us by e-mail. Our data collection is limited to the e-mail address of the e-mail account you use to contact us and any personal data you provide when contacting us.

b) Purpose and legal basis

The purpose of data processing is to enable us to respond to your request appropriately. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR. There is a legitimate interest in the processing of the above-mentioned personal data in order to be able to process your request properly.

c) Storage period

The duration of the storage of the above-mentioned data depends on the background of your contact. Your personal data will be deleted regularly if the purpose of the communication no longer applies and storage is no longer necessary. This may result, for example, from the processing of your request.

  1. Newsletter

a) Type and scope of data processing

You can subscribe to a free regular e-mail newsletter on our website. To be able to send you the newsletter regularly, we need your e-mail address.

We use the so-called double opt-in procedure for sending newsletters.

This means that we will only send you an e-mail newsletter if you have expressly confirmed to us that you consent to the newsletter being sent. We will then send you a confirmation e-mail asking you to confirm that you wish to receive future newsletters from us by clicking on a corresponding link.

This is to ensure that only you as the owner of the specified e-mail address can register for the newsletter. Your confirmation must be made promptly after receipt of the confirmation e-mail, otherwise your newsletter registration will be automatically deleted from our database.

When you subscribe to the newsletter, we collect and store the data you enter in the input mask (e.g. surname, first name, e-mail address).

When you register for the newsletter, we also store your IP address entered by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) as well as the date and time of registration in order to be able to trace any possible misuse of your e-mail address at a later date. In the confirmation e-mail sent out for control purposes (double opt in the
e-mail), we also store the date and time of the click on the confirmation link and the IP address entered by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

b) Purpose and legal basis

The data collected by us when you register for the newsletter will be used exclusively for the purpose of advertising via the newsletter.

The processing of your e-mail address for the newsletter dispatch is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR and § 7 para. 2 No. 3 UWG on the declaration of consent voluntarily given by you below and revocable at any time for the future.

In addition, the processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit f) GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interests to document proof of the required consent.

c) Storage period

Your e-mail address will be stored for as long as you are subscribed to the newsletter. After you unsubscribe from the newsletter, your e-mail address will be deleted unless you have expressly consented to further use of your data.

  1. Tracking and analysis tools

You can find a detailed overview of the web analysis and social media tools we use here .

  1. Data security and security measures

We are committed to protecting your privacy and treating your personal data confidentially. To this end, we take extensive technical and organizational security precautions, which are regularly reviewed and adapted to technological progress.

This includes the use of recognized encryption methods (SSL or TLS). However, data disclosed in unencrypted form, for example by unencrypted e-mail, may be read by third parties. We have no influence on this. It is the responsibility of the respective user to protect the data provided by him/her against misuse by means of encryption or in any other way.

  1. Changes to the privacy policy

We reserve the right to update this declaration at any time if necessary.

  1. Your rights

Here you will find your rights in relation to your personal data. Details can be found in Articles 7, 15-22 and 77 GDPR. You can contact the responsible body in this regard (Section 2).

Right to withdraw your consent under data protection law in accordance with Art. 7 para. 3 P. 1 GDPR

You can revoke your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time with effect for the future. However, this does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out prior to the revocation.

a) Right to information pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR

You have the right to request confirmation as to whether we are processing personal data concerning you. If this is the case, you have the right to information about this personal data and to further information, e.g. the purposes of processing, the categories of personal data processed, the recipients and the planned duration of storage or the criteria for determining the duration.

b) Right to rectification and completion pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR

You have the right to demand the immediate correction of incorrect data. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, you have the right to request the completion of incomplete data.

c) Right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR

You have the right to erasure if the processing is not necessary.
This is the case, for example, if your data is no longer required for the original purposes, if you have revoked your declaration of consent under data protection law or if the data has been processed unlawfully.
d) Right to restriction of processing pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR

You have a right to restriction of processing, e.g. if you believe that the personal data is incorrect.

e) Right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.

f) Right to object pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR
You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of certain personal data concerning you.

In the case of direct advertising, you as the data subject have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is associated with such direct advertising.

g) Automated decision-making in individual cases including profiling in accordance with Art. 22 GDPR

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing – including profiling – except in the exceptional circumstances mentioned in Art. 22 GDPR.

No decision-making based solely on automated processing – including profiling – takes place.

h) Complaint to a data protection supervisory authority pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR

You can also lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority at any time, for example if you are of the opinion that the data processing does not comply with data protection regulations.

18. social plug-ins

We currently use the following social media plug-ins: Facebook. Personal data is transmitted to the respective plug-in provider with the help of a button and stored there.

The respective plug-in provider stores the data collected about you as usage profiles and uses these for the purposes of advertising, market research and/or the needs-based design of its website. Such an evaluation is carried out in particular (even for users who are not logged in) to display needs-based advertising and to inform other users of the social network about your activities on some of our websites. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, whereby you must contact the respective plug-in provider to exercise this right. Via the plug-ins, we offer you the opportunity to interact with social networks and other users so that we can improve our offer and make it more interesting for you as a user. The legal basis for the use of the plug-ins is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Data is passed on regardless of whether you have an account with the plug-in provider and are logged in there. If you are logged in with the plug-in provider, your data collected by us will be assigned directly to your existing account with the plug-in provider. In the case of US providers, transmission takes place in the USA;

Further information on the purpose and scope of data collection and its processing by the plug-in provider can be found in the data protection declarations of these providers provided below. There you will also receive further information on your rights in this regard and setting options to protect your privacy:

  • Facebook Inc, 1601 S California Ave, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA

www.facebook.com/policy.php

19 Google Fonts

a) Type and scope of data processing
We use external fonts from Google Fonts on this website. Google Fonts is a service of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Tel: +353 1 543 1000, Fax: +353 1 686 5660, E-Mail: support-deutschland@google.com (“Google”).

We integrate Google Fonts locally, i.e. on our own server. This prevents a connection to Google servers in the USA and the transfer and storage of personal data to or on Google servers in the USA.

b) Purpose and legal basis
The purpose of using Google Fonts is the uniform display of fonts. The legal basis is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f) GDPR.

c) Right of objection
You have the right to object to the creation of user profiles.