Privacy policy

Data protection in general and the protection of your personal data in particular are of the highest importance to us. Below you will find information on how your personal data is processed on our website. The processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the German Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz, BDSG) valid until 24/05/2018, the German Telemedia Act (Telemediengesetz, TMG), and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the new German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG-neu), both valid from 25/05/2018.

Provision of the website and creation of log files

You do not need to provide personal data simply to visit our website and retrieve the information contained therein.

During your visit to our website, we only collect and use data that your internet browser automatically sends us:

• Date and time of the retrieval of one of our websites
• Your browser type
• Your browser settings
• Your IP address
• The pages you visited

We use this data to make it technically possible for you to visit our website. We also use this data for statistical purposes and to improve the design and layout of our website. We store IP addresses for the purpose of ensuring and maintaining IT security (e.g. detection of and defence against so-called DOS attacks) and functionality.

The legal basis for the temporary storage of data is Art. 6 Para. 1 letter f GDPR.

Personal data forms

Personal data is only collected if you voluntarily provide it in the context of a request for the information brochure, a contact request, or when signing up for the newsletter.

Information brochure, contact form, newsletter

On our website there are several contact forms which can be used to establish contact in electronic form.

If you use these options, the data entered into the input fields on the forms is sent to us and stored. This data depends on the respective form completed:

• Surname
• First name
• Street, number
• Town/city, postcode
• Email address
• Telephone number

If necessary, your consent to the processing of the data is obtained as part of the transmission process, and reference is made to this privacy policy.

The data contained in the form is encrypted before transmission. Alternatively, we can be contacted via the email address provided. In this case, the user’s personal data transmitted via email will be stored.

Purpose and legal basis for data processing

The personal data from the input fields is only used by us to process the contact request. In the case of contact being made via email, this also includes the required legitimate interest in the processing of the data.

The newsletter provides regular updates on interesting offers, news, and stories about the company. The legal basis for the processing of the data is the existence of consent in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 letter a GDPR.

The legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of sending an email is Art. 6 Para. 1 letter f GDPR. If the aim of the email is to conclude a contract, then the additional legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 Para. 1 letter b GDPR.

Storage period

In the case of newsletter subscription, data is stored until the affected person unsubscribes from the newsletter with future effect.

Contact forms: if the reason for storing the data ceases to exist, personal data will be blocked or deleted as long as this does not conflict with statutory data retention requirements.

Recipients or categories of recipients of data (if data transfer takes place)

Within the company, your data is received by the departments which require it to fulfil your request.

Information on the rights of affected persons

Each affected person is entitled to the following data protection rights in accordance with the GDPR:

• Right to information in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR
• Right to rectification of incorrect data in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR
• Right to deletion in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR
• Right to restriction of processing in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR
• Right to data portability in accordance with Art. 20 GDPR
• Right to objection in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR

To exercise the rights shown above or to revoke consent you have previously given, please send an email to the email address in the legal notice.

You have the right of appeal to a regulatory authority. You may assert this right with a regulatory authority in the EU Member State of your residence, place of work, or place of alleged infringement.

Before contacting the relevant regulatory authority, we would ask you to clarify this matter with our Data Protection Officer.

Planned data transfer to third-party countries

There is currently no data transfer to third party countries, and this is not planned in the future.

We use so-called “cookies” on our website. These are small text files that are sent by our web server to your computer to identify it for the duration of your visit. We do not collect personal data through these cookies.

You can also view our website without the storage of cookies. You can deactivate the storage of cookies in your browser settings, or adjust your settings to inform you every time a website attempts to store cookies. In this case, you may decide whether to accept cookies in each instance. However, for technical reasons, the unrestricted use of temporary cookies is necessary to ensure the full functionality of our website.

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Through this tool, data is collected and stored from which usage profiles are created using pseudonyms. These user profiles are used to analyse visitor behaviour and are evaluated to improve and better tailor our products to your needs.

Google Analytics uses what are known as “cookies”, text files which are stored on your computer and permit the analysis of your use of the website. The information on your use of this website (including parts of your IP Address) gathered by the cookie is transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website in order to generate reports on website activity for the website provider and to perform additional services related to the use of the website and Internet use. Google may also pass this information on to third parties in so far as is prescribed by law or where third parties are processing the data on behalf of Google. Google will never associate your IP address with any other Google data. We will not combine the pseudonymous user profiles with personal data concerning the user of the pseudonym without the express consent of the person concerned, which is to be granted separately. Data collection for usage statistics and transmission to Google takes place with the extended code “gat._anonymizeIp();”. The capture of IP addresses is thus anonymised (so-called IP masking).

You can object to the collection, use and storage of data for the purpose of web analytics at any time with future effect by preventing the installation of cookies. This is done by setting your browser software accordingly; however, please be aware 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 and processing data on your use of the website (including parts of your IP address) by downloading and installing the browser plugin available via the following link: www.tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Our website uses the analytics service etracker. The provider is etracker GmbH, Erste Brunnenstraße 1, 20459 Hamburg. This data can be used to generate user profiles under a pseudonym. Cookies can be used for this purpose. Cookies are small text files which are saved locally in the your web browser cache. These cookies enable us to identify your browser on your next visit. Without the explicit consent of the individual concerned, data collected by etracker technologies is not used to identify visitors to this website, and is not merged with personal data concerning the individual bearing the pseudonym.

You can object to the collection and storage of data at any time with future effect. In order to object to the collection and storage of your visitor data, you can request an opt-out cookie from etracker via the following link. This will ensure that visitor data from your browser is not collected and stored by etracker in the future: http://www.etracker.de/privacy?et=V23Jbb

This sets an opt-out cookie from etracker with the name “cntcookie”. Do not delete this cookie as long as you wish to maintain your objection. Further information on the data protection provisions at etracker can be found under: http://www.etracker.com/de/datenschutz.html

Social Media Facebook

Our website uses social plugins from facebook.com (“Facebook”). A social network is a social meeting place operated on the Internet, an online community that generally enables users to communicate with each other and interact in virtual space. A social network can serve as a platform for the exchange of opinions and experiences or enable the Internet community to provide personal or company-related information. Among other things, Facebook allows users of the social network to create private profiles, upload photos and network via friend requests.

The operating company of Facebook is Facebook, Inc, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. If a data subject lives outside the USA or Canada, the controller for the processing of personal data is Facebook Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Each time one of the individual pages of this website is accessed, which is operated by the data controller and on which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-in) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted by the respective Facebook component to download a representation of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook. A complete overview of all Facebook plug-ins can be accessed at . During the course of this technical procedure, Facebook gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Facebook, Facebook detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject-and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site-which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by the Facebook component and assigned by Facebook to the respective Facebook account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated on our website, for example the “Like” button, or if the data subject makes a comment, Facebook assigns this information to the personal Facebook user account of the data subject and stores this personal data.

Facebook always receives information via the Facebook component that the data subject has visited our website if the data subject is logged in to Facebook at the same time as accessing our website; this takes place regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Facebook component or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transmitted to Facebook, they can prevent the transmission by logging out of their Facebook account before accessing our website.

The data policy published by Facebook, which can be accessed at , provides information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by Facebook. It also explains what settings options Facebook offers to protect the privacy of the data subject. In addition, various applications are available that make it possible to suppress the transmission of data to Facebook. Such applications can be used by the data subject to suppress data transmission to Facebook. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy

Facebook Pixel

We have integrated components of Facebook Pixel from Facebook on our websites. The Facebook pixel is a snippet of JavaScript code that loads a collection of functions with which Facebook can track your user actions if you have come to the user's website via Facebook ads.

The operating company of Facebook Pixel is Facebook Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Each time one of the individual pages of this website is accessed, which is operated by the controller and on which a Facebook component (Facebook plug-in) has been integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the data subject is automatically prompted by the respective Facebook component to download a representation of the corresponding Facebook component from Facebook. A complete overview of all Facebook plug-ins can be accessed at . During the course of this technical procedure, Facebook gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on Facebook, Facebook detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject-and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site-which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by the Facebook component and assigned by Facebook to the respective Facebook account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the Facebook buttons integrated on our website, for example the “Like” button, or if the data subject makes a comment, Facebook assigns this information to the personal Facebook user account of the data subject and stores this personal data.

Facebook always receives information via the Facebook component that the data subject has visited our website if the data subject is logged in to Facebook at the same time as accessing our website; this takes place regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the Facebook component or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transmitted to Facebook, they can prevent the transmission by logging out of their Facebook account before accessing our website.

With the help of Facebook pixels, the advertising measures of users can be better tailored to their wishes and interests. In this way, Facebook users (provided they have allowed personalized advertising) see suitable advertising. Facebook also uses the data collected for analysis purposes and its own advertisements.

Twitter

This privacy policy applies to our website on Twitter. The Twitter site is provided to us by Twitter, Inc, 1355 Market Street, Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA (hereinafter referred to as Twitter).

If you are logged in with your personal Twitter profile, you can interact with the operator of the Twitter site. The associated data is processed by the operator (e.g. your user name and profile picture).

The operator uses this data to optimize the content offered and its presentation and to adapt it to the respective user interests. This data processing is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 f) GDPR (legitimate interest). The legitimate interest arises from the purpose of optimizing our Twitter presence and the content published there.

Further information about Twitter's data processing can be found in Twitter's privacy policy at the following link https://twitter.com/privacy?lang=de

XING

We use the “Share button” from XING on our website. XING AG, Dammtorstraße 29-32, 20354 Hamburg, Germany, is responsible for this. When you visit our website, your browser establishes a short-term connection to the servers of XING AG (“XING”), which are used to provide the “XING Share Button” functions (in particular the calculation/display of the counter value). XING does not store any personal data about you when you access this website. In particular, XING does not store any IP addresses. There is also no evaluation of your usage behavior through the use of cookies in connection with the “XING Share Button”.

https://privacy.xing.com/de/datenschutzerklaerung

YouTube

This website contains at least one plugin from YouTube, which belongs to Google Inc. based in San Bruno, California, USA. As soon as you visit pages of our website that are equipped with a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers is established. The YouTube server is informed which specific page of our website you have visited. If you are also logged into your YouTube account, you would enable YouTube to assign your surfing behavior directly to your personal profile. You can disable this possibility of assignment if you log out of your account beforehand.

Further information on the collection and use of your data by YouTube can be found in the privacy policy at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

Instagram

Our website uses plug-ins from Instagram, which is operated by Instagram LLC, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. The plug-ins are marked with an Instagram logo, for example in the form of an “Instagram camera”.

When you visit one of our pages that contains such a plug-in, your browser establishes a direct connection to the Instagram servers. The content of the plug-in is transmitted by Instagram directly to your browser and integrated into the page. Through this integration, Instagram receives the information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, regardless of whether you have an Instagram profile or are currently not logged in to Instagram. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to an Instagram server in the USA and stored there. If you are logged in to Instagram, Instagram can directly associate your visit to our website with your Instagram account.

If you interact with the plug-ins, for example by clicking on the “Instagram” button, this information is also transmitted directly to an Instagram server and stored there. The information is also published on your Instagram account and displayed to your contacts there. The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Instagram as well as your rights in this regard and setting options to protect your privacy can be found in Instagram's data protection information: https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388/

If you do not want Instagram to assign the data collected via our website directly to your Instagram account, you must log out of Instagram before visiting our website.

LinkedIn

We use functions of the LinkedIn network of LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. LinkedIn is an internet-based social network that enables users to connect with existing business contacts and make new business contacts. Over 400 million registered people use LinkedIn in more than 200 countries. This makes LinkedIn currently the largest platform for business contacts and one of the most visited websites in the world.

Each time you visit our website, which is equipped with a LinkedIn component (LinkedIn plug-in), this component causes the browser used by the data subject to download a corresponding representation of the LinkedIn component. Further information on the LinkedIn plug-ins can be found at During the course of this technical procedure, LinkedIn gains knowledge of what specific sub-page of our website was visited by the data subject.

If the data subject is logged in at the same time on LinkedIn, LinkedIn detects with every call-up to our website by the data subject-and for the entire duration of their stay on our Internet site-which specific sub-page of our Internet page was visited by the data subject. This information is collected by the LinkedIn component and assigned by LinkedIn to the respective LinkedIn account of the data subject. If the data subject clicks on one of the LinkedIn buttons integrated on our website, LinkedIn assigns this information to the personal LinkedIn user account of the data subject and stores this personal data. LinkedIn always receives information via the LinkedIn component that the data subject has visited our website if the data subject is logged in to LinkedIn at the same time as accessing our website; this takes place regardless of whether the data subject clicks on the LinkedIn component or not. If such a transmission of this information to LinkedIn is not desirable for the data subject, the delivery may be prevented if the data subject logs off from their LinkedIn account before a call-up to our website is made. https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

LinkedIn conversion tracking

We also use conversion tracking on our website with LinkedIn Insights Tag, a tool provided by LinkedIn Ireland, Wilton Plaza, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland. For this purpose, the LinkedIn Insight Tag is integrated on our pages and a cookie is set on your end device by LinkedIn. This informs LinkedIn that you have visited our website, whereby your IP address is also collected. Timestamps and events such as page views are also stored. This enables us to statistically evaluate the use of our website in order to constantly optimize it. For example, we find out which LinkedIn ad or interaction on LinkedIn brought you to our website. This allows us to better control the display of our advertising.

Further information on conversion tracking can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/67595/linkedin-conversion-trackingubersicht. Please note that the data may be stored and processed by LinkedIn so that a connection to the respective user profile is possible and LinkedIn can use the data for its own advertising purposes. Further information on this can be found in LinkedIn's privacy policy at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy. You can prevent LinkedIn from analyzing your usage behavior and from displaying interest-based recommendations via https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out.

HubSpot

Our website uses services of the software manufacturer HubSpot. HubSpot is a software company from the USA with its European headquarters in Ireland: HubSpot European Headquarters, Ground Floor, Two Dockland Central, Guild Street, Dublin 1.

We use HubSpot for our online marketing activities. This is an integrated software solution that we use to cover various aspects of our online marketing.

These include:
- Content management (website and blog)
- Email marketing (newsletters and automated mailings, e.g. to provide downloads)
- Social media publishing & reporting
- Reporting (e.g. traffic sources, hits, etc. ...)
- Contact management (e.g. user segmentation & CRM)
- Landing pages and contact forms

This information as well as the content of our website is stored on servers of our software partner HubSpot Ireland. It can be used by us to contact visitors to our website and to determine which of our company's services are of interest to them. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO.

All information we collect is subject to this privacy policy.
In accordance with Art. 28 DSGVO, we have concluded an order processing agreement with HubSpot Ireland and fully implement the resulting requirements.

o More information about HubSpot's privacy policy
o More information from HubSpot regarding EU data protection regulations
o More information about the cookies used by HubSpot can be found here.

We use technical and organisational security measures to protect personal data from accidental or wilful manipulation, loss, destruction or access by unauthorised persons. Our security measures are continually improved in line with technical developments. Please note that despite all security measures, the transmission of data via the internet may lead to third parties intercepting or falsifying this data.

If you have any question or suggestions regarding this privacy policy, please contact us using the address in the legal notice.

Ongoing technical developments in the field of IT and the internet may require the adaptation of the existing privacy policy. We therefore reserve the right to make additions or changes to this privacy policy. The current version of this declaration dates from 30/04/2018.