Data Protection

1. Data protection at a glance

General information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data that can be used to identify you personally. For detailed information on data protection, please refer to our privacy policy set out below this text.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the ‘Information on the Data Controller’ section of this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected, firstly, when you provide it to us. This may include, for example, data that you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected by our IT systems automatically or with your consent when you visit the website. This consists mainly of technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system or the time at which the page was accessed). This data is collected automatically as soon as you access this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure the website functions correctly. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour.

What rights do you have regarding your personal data?

You have the right at any time to obtain, free of charge, information about the source, recipients and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the rectification or erasure of this data. If you have given your consent to the processing of your data, you may withdraw this consent at any time with effect for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority.

Please feel free to contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other queries you may have about data protection.

Analytics tools and third-party tools

When you visit this website, your browsing behaviour may be analysed for statistical purposes. This is primarily done using so-called analytics tools.

You can find detailed information about these analytics programmes in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

Hetzner

We host our website with Hetzner. The service provider is Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen (hereinafter ‘Hetzner’).

For further details, please refer to Hetzner’s privacy policy: https://www.hetzner.com/de/rechtliches/datenschutz.

The use of Hetzner is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in ensuring that our website is displayed as reliably as possible. Where consent has been sought, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Order processing

We have entered into a data processing agreement (DPA) with the aforementioned provider. This is a contract required under data protection legislation, which ensures that the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General information and mandatory information

Data Protection

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various items of personal data are collected. Personal data is data that can be used to identify you personally. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

Please note that data transmission over the internet (e.g. when communicating by email) may be subject to security vulnerabilities. It is not possible to guarantee complete protection of data against access by third parties.

Information on the data controller

The body responsible for data processing on this website is:

pechschwarz Ltd

19 Max-Planck-Straße

42277 Wuppertal

Telephone: 0202 25855300

Email: info@pechschwarz.com

The data controller is the natural or legal person who, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data (e.g. names, email addresses, etc.).

Retention period

Unless a more specific retention period is stated elsewhere in this privacy policy, we will retain your personal data until the purpose for which it is processed no longer applies. If you make a valid request for erasure or withdraw your consent to data processing, your data will be erased, provided we have no other legally permissible grounds for retaining your personal data (e.g. retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the data will be deleted once these grounds no longer apply.

General information on the legal basis for data processing on this website

Provided that you have consented to the processing of your data, we process your personal data on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) of the GDPR, where special categories of data as defined in Article 9(1) of the GDPR are processed. In the event of express consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Article 49(1)(a) of the GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), data processing is also carried out on the basis of Section 25(1) of the German Telemedia Act (TTDSG). Consent may be withdrawn at any time. If your data is required for the performance of a contract or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data where this is necessary to comply with a legal obligation on the basis of Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR. Data processing may also take place on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Information on the legal bases applicable in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Information on the transfer of data to the USA and other third countries

Among other things, we use tools provided by companies based in the USA or other third countries that do not offer an adequate level of data protection. When these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to these third countries and processed there. Please note that a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obliged to disclose personal data to security authorities without you, as the data subject, being able to take legal action against this. It cannot therefore be ruled out that US authorities (e.g. intelligence services) may process, analyse and permanently store your data held on US servers for surveillance purposes. We have no influence over these processing activities.

Withdrawal of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your explicit consent. You may withdraw any consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of any data processing carried out prior to the withdrawal remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

Right to object to data collection in specific cases and to direct marketing (Article 21 of the GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF ARTICLE 6(1)( E or F of the GDPR, you have the right at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to object to the processing of your personal data; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. THE RELEVANT LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS NECESSARY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ARTICLE 21(1) OF THE GDPR).

IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING, INSOFAR AS IT IS RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 21(2) OF THE GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority

In the event of infringements of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, their place of work or the place where the alleged infringement occurred. This right to lodge a complaint is without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract provided to you or to a third party in a commonly used, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another data controller, this will only take place to the extent that it is technically feasible.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential information – such as orders or enquiries that you send to us as the website operator – this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar in your browser changes from ‘http://’ to ‘https://’ and by the padlock icon in your browser’s address bar.

If SSL or TLS encryption is enabled, the data you send to us cannot be read by third parties.

Access, erasure and rectification

In accordance with the applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain, free of charge, information about your stored personal data, its source and recipients, and the purpose of the data processing, and, where applicable, the right to have this data rectified or erased. You may contact us at any time regarding this matter or any other queries relating to personal data.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted. You may contact us at any time to do so. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data held by us, we will generally need time to verify this. For the duration of this verification, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.

If the processing of your personal data has been or is being carried out unlawfully, you may request that the processing of your data be restricted rather than deleted.

If we no longer require your personal data, but you require it to exercise, defend or assert legal claims, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted rather than erased.

If you have lodged an objection under Article 21(1) of the GDPR, a balancing of interests between yours and ours must be carried out. Until it has been determined whose interests take precedence, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, such data – apart from its storage – may only be processed with your consent or for the purposes of establishing, exercise or defence of legal claims, or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of an important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

Objection to promotional emails

We hereby object to the use of contact details published in accordance with the legal requirement to provide an imprint for the purpose of sending unsolicited advertising and information material. The operators of this website expressly reserve the right to take legal action in the event of the unsolicited sending of advertising material, such as via spam emails.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies

Our website uses what are known as ‘cookies’. Cookies are small text files and do not cause any damage to your device. They are stored on your device either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies). Session cookies are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them yourself or your web browser deletes them automatically.

In some cases, cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your device when you visit our website (third-party cookies). These enable us or you to use certain services provided by the third-party company (e.g. cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies serve various purposes. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping basket function or the display of videos). Other cookies are used to analyse user behaviour or to display adverts.

Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide specific functions requested by you (e.g. the shopping basket function) or to optimise the website (e.g. cookies for measuring website traffic) (essential cookies), are stored on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies to ensure the technically fault-free and optimised provision of its services. Where consent has been sought for the storage of cookies and similar recognition technologies, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of this consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG); consent may be withdrawn at any time.

You can configure your browser so that you are notified when cookies are set, and so that you can allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, block cookies in specific cases or generally, and enable the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. If you disable cookies, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Where cookies are used by third parties or for analytical purposes, we will provide you with separate information on this within this privacy policy and, where necessary, seek your consent.

Server log files

The provider of this website automatically collects and stores information in what are known as server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

Browser type and browser version

operating system used

Referrer URL

Hostname of the connecting computer

Time of the server request

IP address

This data is not combined with data from other sources.

This data is collected on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in ensuring that the website functions without technical errors and in optimising it – to this end, the server log files must be recorded.

Contact form

If you send us enquiries via the contact form, the details you provide in the enquiry form – including the contact details you enter there – will be stored by us for the purpose of processing your enquiry and in case we need to follow up with further questions. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, provided that your enquiry relates to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of enquiries addressed to us (Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR) or on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR) where this has been sought; you may withdraw your consent at any time.

The data you enter in the contact form will be retained by us until you request its deletion, withdraw your consent to its storage, or the purpose for which the data is stored no longer applies (e.g. once your enquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

Enquiries by email, telephone or fax

If you contact us by email, telephone or fax, your enquiry, including any personal data it contains (name, enquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of dealing with your request. We will not pass on this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, provided that your enquiry relates to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective handling of enquiries addressed to us (Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR) or on your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR) where this has been sought; consent may be withdrawn at any time.

The data you send us via contact enquiries will remain with us until you request its deletion, withdraw your consent to its storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g. once your enquiry has been dealt with). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

HubSpot CRM

We use HubSpot CRM on this website. The provider is HubSpot Inc., 25 Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA (hereinafter ‘HubSpot CRM’).

Among other things, HubSpot CRM enables us to manage existing and potential customers, as well as customer contacts. With the help of HubSpot CRM, we are able to record, organise and analyse customer interactions via email, social media or telephone across various channels. The personal data collected in this way can be analysed and used for communication with potential customers or for marketing activities (e.g. newsletter mailings). HubSpot CRM also enables us to track and analyse the behaviour of our contacts on our website.

The use of HubSpot CRM is based on Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in managing and communicating with customers as efficiently as possible. Where consent has been sought, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

For further details, please refer to HubSpot’s privacy policy: https://legal.hubspot.com/de/privacy-policy.

Data transfers to the USA are based on the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses. Further details can be found here: https://www.hubspot.de/data-privacy/privacy-shield.

Order processing

We have entered into a data processing agreement (DPA) with the aforementioned provider. This is a contract required under data protection law, which ensures that the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

5. Analytics tools and advertising

Google Analytics

This website uses features of the web analytics service Google Analytics. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Analytics enables website operators to analyse the behaviour of website visitors. In doing so, the website operator receives various usage data, such as page views, time spent on the site, operating systems used and the user’s location. This data is collated into a user ID and assigned to the website visitor’s respective device.

Furthermore, we can use Google Analytics to track, amongst other things, your mouse and scroll movements and clicks. Google Analytics also uses various modelling approaches to supplement the data sets collected and employs machine learning technologies in its data analysis.

Google Analytics uses technologies that enable users to be recognised for the purpose of analysing user behaviour (e.g. cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google regarding the use of this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

Data transfers to the USA are based on the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses. Further details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

Browser plug-in

You can prevent Google from collecting and processing your data by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available via the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

Further information on how user data is handled by Google Analytics can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Order processing

We have entered into a data processing agreement with Google and fully comply with the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Google Ads

The website operator uses Google Ads. Google Ads is an online advertising programme provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Google Ads enables us to display adverts on the Google search engine or on third-party websites when users enter specific search terms into Google (keyword targeting). Furthermore, targeted adverts can be displayed based on user data held by Google (e.g. location data and interests) (audience targeting). As website operators, we can analyse this data quantitatively, for example by examining which search terms led to our adverts being displayed and how many adverts resulted in clicks.

Use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

Data transfers to the USA are based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. Further details can be found here: https://policies.google.com/privacy/frameworks and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

Google Conversion Tracking

This website uses Google Conversion Tracking. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (‘Google’), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

With the help of Google Conversion Tracking, Google and we can determine whether a user has carried out specific actions. For example, this enables us to analyse which buttons on our website have been clicked and how often, and which products have been viewed or purchased particularly frequently. This information is used to compile conversion statistics. We are informed of the total number of users who have clicked on our adverts and what actions they have taken. We do not receive any information that would enable us to personally identify the user. Google itself uses cookies or similar recognition technologies for identification purposes.

Use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

You can find more information about Google conversion tracking in Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Meta Pixel (formerly Facebook Pixel)

This website uses Facebook/Meta’s visitor action pixels to measure conversions. The provider of this service is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. However, according to Facebook, the data collected is also transferred to the USA and other third countries.

This allows the behaviour of website visitors to be tracked after they have been redirected to the provider’s website by clicking on a Facebook advert. This enables the effectiveness of Facebook adverts to be analysed for statistical and market research purposes, and future advertising campaigns to be optimised.

The data collected is anonymous to us as the operators of this website; we cannot draw any conclusions about the identity of users. However, the data is stored and processed by Facebook, meaning that a link to the relevant user profile is possible and Facebook can use the data for its own advertising purposes, in accordance with Facebook’s Data Use Policy (https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy/). This enables Facebook to display advertisements on Facebook pages as well as outside of Facebook. As the site operator, we have no control over this use of the data.

Use of this service is based on your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG. You may withdraw your consent at any time.

Insofar as personal data is collected on our website using the tool described here and forwarded to Facebook, we and Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland, are jointly responsible for this data processing (Article 26 of the GDPR). This joint responsibility is limited exclusively to the collection of the data and its transfer to Facebook. Any processing carried out by Facebook following the transfer is not part of this joint responsibility. The obligations incumbent upon us jointly have been set out in a joint processing agreement. The text of the agreement can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/legal/controller_addendum. Under this agreement, we are responsible for providing data protection information regarding the use of the Facebook tool and for ensuring the tool is implemented on our website in a manner that complies with data protection law. Facebook is responsible for the data security of Facebook products. You may exercise your data subject rights (e.g. requests for information) regarding the data processed by Facebook directly with Facebook. If you exercise your data subject rights with us, we are obliged to forward these to Facebook.

Data transfers to the USA are based on the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses. Further details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://de-de.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

You can find further information on protecting your privacy in Facebook’s privacy policy: https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

You can also disable the ‘Custom Audiences’ remarketing feature in the Ad Settings section at https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen. To do this, you must be logged in to Facebook.

If you do not have a Facebook account, you can opt out of Facebook’s behavioural advertising on the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance website: http://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/.

6. Plugins and tools

YouTube with enhanced data protection

This website embeds YouTube videos. The website is operated by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

We use YouTube in enhanced privacy mode. According to YouTube, this mode ensures that YouTube does not store any information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. However, enhanced privacy mode does not necessarily prevent data from being shared with YouTube partners. For example, YouTube establishes a connection to the Google DoubleClick network, regardless of whether you watch a video or not.

As soon as you play a YouTube video on this website, a connection is established with YouTube’s servers. In doing so, the YouTube server is informed which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you are allowing YouTube to link your browsing behaviour directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Furthermore, once a video has started playing, YouTube may store various cookies on your device or use similar recognition technologies (e.g. device fingerprinting). In this way, YouTube can obtain information about visitors to this website. This information is used, amongst other things, to collect video statistics, improve the user experience and prevent fraud.

Where applicable, once a YouTube video has started playing, further data processing operations may be triggered over which we have no control.

YouTube is used to ensure that our online services are presented in an appealing manner. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Where consent has been sought, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

For further information on data protection at YouTube, please see their privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Google Web Fonts (locally hosted)

This page uses so-called web fonts, provided by Google, to ensure consistent font display. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection is made to Google’s servers.

Further information on Google Web Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use ‘Google reCAPTCHA’ (hereinafter ‘reCAPTCHA’) on this website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (‘Google’), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

reCAPTCHA is used to verify whether data entry on this website (e.g. in a contact form) is carried out by a human or by an automated programme. To do this, reCAPTCHA analyses the website visitor’s behaviour based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor accesses the website. reCAPTCHA evaluates various pieces of information for the analysis (e.g. IP address, the length of time the website visitor spends on the website, or the mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

reCAPTCHA analyses run entirely in the background. Website visitors are not made aware that an analysis is taking place.

The storage and analysis of the data are carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web services from malicious automated scanning and from spam. Where consent has been sought, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

For further information on Google reCAPTCHA, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de and https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=de.

Google Maps

This site uses the Google Maps mapping service. It is provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

In order to use the features of Google Maps, it is necessary to store your IP address. This information is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The provider of this website has no influence over this data transfer. When Google Maps is enabled, Google may use Google Web Fonts to ensure consistent font display. When you access Google Maps, your browser loads the required web fonts into its cache to ensure that text and fonts are displayed correctly.

We use Google Maps to ensure our online services are presented in an appealing way and to make it easy to locate the places we specify on the website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Where consent has been sought, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 25(1) of the TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Data transfers to the USA are based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. Further details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/ and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/sccs/.

Further information on the handling of user data can be found in Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Leadinfo:

We use the lead generation service provided by Leadinfo B.V., Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This service identifies visits to our website by businesses via their IP addresses and displays publicly available information to us, such as company names or addresses. In addition, Leadinfo sets two first-party cookies to analyse user behaviour on our website and processes domains from form submissions (e.g. ‘leadinfo.com’) in order to correlate IP addresses with companies and improve its services. Further information can be found at www.leadinfo.com. You can opt out on this page: www.leadinfo.com/en/opt-out. If you opt out, your data will no longer be collected by Leadinfo.”

7. E-commerce and payment providers

Processing of customer and contract data

We collect, process and use personal customer and contractual data for the purpose of establishing, defining the terms of and amending our contractual relationships. We collect, process and use personal data relating to the use of this website (usage data) only to the extent necessary to enable the user to access the service or to bill them for it. The legal basis for this is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

The customer data collected will be deleted once the order has been completed or the business relationship has ended, and any applicable statutory retention periods have expired. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

8. Our own services

Handling of applicant data

We offer you the opportunity to apply for a job with us (e.g. by email, post or via the online application form). Below, we provide information on the scope, purpose and use of your personal data collected as part of the application process. We assure you that the collection, processing and use of your data will be carried out in accordance with applicable data protection legislation and all other legal provisions, and that your data will be treated as strictly confidential.

Scope and purpose of data collection

If you submit an application to us, we will process the personal data associated with it (e.g. contact and communication details, application documents, notes taken during interviews, etc.) to the extent necessary to decide whether to enter into an employment relationship. The legal basis for this is Section 26 of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) (initiation of an employment relationship), Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR (general pre-contractual processing) and – provided you have given your consent – Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. Your personal data will be disclosed within our company exclusively to those persons involved in processing your application.

Should your application be successful, the data you have submitted will be stored in our data processing systems in accordance with Section 26 of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and Article 6(1)(b) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for the purpose of managing the employment relationship.

Data retention period

If we are unable to make you a job offer, if you decline a job offer, or if you withdraw your application, we reserve the right to retain the data you have provided, on the basis of our legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR) for up to 6 months from the end of the application process (rejection or withdrawal of the application). The data will then be deleted and the physical application documents destroyed. The data is retained in particular for evidential purposes in the event of a legal dispute. If it becomes apparent that the data will be required after the expiry of the 6-month period (e.g. due to an impending or pending legal dispute), the data will not be deleted until the purpose for its continued retention no longer applies.

Data may also be retained for a longer period if you have given your consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR) or if statutory retention obligations prevent the data from being erased.

Inclusion in the candidate pool

If we do not make you a job offer, there may be the option of adding you to our candidate pool. Should you be added to the pool, all documents and details from your application will be transferred to the candidate pool so that we can contact you should any suitable vacancies arise.

Inclusion in the candidate pool is based solely on your explicit consent (Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR). The provision of consent is voluntary and is not linked to the ongoing recruitment process. The data subject may withdraw their consent at any time. In this case, the data will be permanently deleted from the candidate pool, provided there are no legal grounds for retaining it.

Data from the candidate pool will be permanently deleted no later than two years after consent has been given.