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Legal Disclosure

Information in accordance with section 5 TMG

IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH
Alexander-von-Humboldt-Straße 19
73529 Schwäbisch Gmünd
Germany

Represented by

Michael Müller

Contact

Telephone:+49 7171 10 407-0
Telefax:+49 7171 10 407-50
E-Mail:infoifo-gmbhde

Register entry

Register Court: Amtsgericht Ulm
Register Number: HRB Nr. 701796

VAT number

VAT indentification number in accorance with section 27 a of the German VAT act
DE 177718678

Controlling authority

Amtsgericht Ulm

Person responsible for content in accordance with 55 Abs. 2 RStV

Ulrich Mäule


Privacy Policy

We are very pleased that you are interested in our company. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the management of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH. You can basically use the website of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH without providing any personal data. However, if a data subject wants to use special company services via our website, processing of personal data could become necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the consent of the person concerned.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH. By means of this data protection declaration, our company would like to inform the public about the type, scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed of the rights to which they are entitled by means of this data protection declaration.

As the controller responsible for processing, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection possible for the personal data processed via this website. Nevertheless, Internet-based data transmissions can generally have security gaps, so that absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every person concerned is free to transmit personal data to us in alternative ways, for example by telephone.

1. Definitions

The data protection declaration of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terms used in advance.

We use the following terms, among others, in this data protection declaration:

a) personal data

Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"). A natural person is considered to be identifiable if, directly or indirectly, in particular by means of assignment to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more special features, the expression of the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of this natural person can be identified.

b) data subject

Data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the data controller.

c) Processing

Processing is any process carried out with or without the help of automated procedures or any such series of processes in connection with personal data such as collecting, recording, organizing, arranging, storing, adapting or changing, reading out, querying, using, disclosure by transmission, distribution or any other form of making available, matching or linking, restriction, deletion or destruction.

d) Restriction of processing

Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of restricting their future processing.

e) profiling

Profiling is any type of automated processing of personal data, which consists in using this personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular aspects relating to work performance, economic situation, health, personal Analyze or predict that natural person’s preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, whereabouts or relocation.

f) Pseudonymization

Pseudonymization is the processing of personal data in such a way that the personal data can no longer be assigned to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that this additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organizational measures that ensure that the personal data not assigned to an identified or identifiable natural person.

g) Controller or data controller

The person responsible or responsible for processing is the natural or legal person, authority, institution or other body that alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data. If the purposes and means of this processing are specified by Union law or the law of the Member States, the person responsible or the specific criteria for his naming can be provided for by Union law or the law of the Member States.

h) processors

Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, institution or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the person responsible.

i) Recipient

Recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, institution or other body to which personal data is disclosed, regardless of whether it is a third party or not. However, authorities that may receive personal data in the context of a specific investigation mandate under Union or Member State law are not considered recipients.

j) third party

Third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, the controller, the processor and the persons who, under the direct responsibility of the controller or the processor, are authorized to process the personal data.

k) Consent

Consent is any expression of will voluntarily given by the data subject in an informed manner and unequivocally for the specific case in the form of a declaration or other clear confirmatory action with which the data subject indicates that they consent to the processing of their personal data is.

2. Name and address of the person responsible for processing

The person responsible within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the member states of the European Union and other provisions of a data protection nature is:

IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH

Alexander-von-Humboldt-Straße 19

73529 Schwäbisch Gmünd

Germany

Tel.: +49 7171 104070

E-Mail: info@ifo-gmbh.de

Website: www.ifo-gmbh.de

3. Name and address of the data protection officer

The data protection officer of the person responsible for processing is:

Arno Sterzinger

IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH

Alexander-von-Humboldt-Straße 19

73529 Schwäbisch Gmünd

Germany

Tel.: +49 7171 1040753

E-Mail: dsb@ifo-gmbh.de

Website: www.ifo-gmbh.de

Every data subject can contact our data protection officer directly at any time with any questions or suggestions regarding data protection.

4.Cookies

The Internet pages of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH use cookies. Cookies are text files that are filed and saved on a computer system via an Internet browser.

Numerous websites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a character string through which websites and servers can be assigned to the specific internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This enables the visited websites and servers to distinguish the individual browser of the person concerned from other internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific internet browser can be recognized and identified via the unique cookie ID.

Through the use of cookies, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.

By means of a cookie, the information and offers on our website can be optimized for the user. As already mentioned, cookies enable us to recognize the users of our website. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to use our website. For example, the user of a website that uses cookies does not have to re-enter their access data each time they visit the website because this is done by the website and the cookie stored on the user's computer system. Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in the online shop. The online shop uses a cookie to remember the items that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart.

The person concerned can prevent the setting of cookies by our website at any time by means of a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Furthermore, cookies that have already been set can be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all common Internet browsers. If the person concerned deactivates the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be fully usable.

5. Collection of general data and information

The website of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH collects a series of general data and information each time the website is accessed by a data subject or an automated system. This general data and information is stored in the log files of the server. The (1) browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system accesses our website (so-called referrer), (4) the sub-websites, which are accessed via an accessing system on our website can be controlled, (5) the date and time of access to the website, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system and (8) other similar data and information used to avert threats in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using these general data and information, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is required to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website and the advertising for it, (3) ensure the long-term functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website and ( 4) to provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for law enforcement in the event of a cyber attack. This anonymously collected data and information is therefore statistically evaluated by the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH, with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our company, in order to ultimately ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by an affected person.

6. Subscription to our newsletter

On the website of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH, users are given the opportunity to subscribe to our enterprise's newsletter. Which personal data is transmitted to the person responsible for processing when ordering the newsletter results from the input mask used for this purpose.

The IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH informs its customers and business partners regularly by means of a newsletter about enterprise offers. The newsletter of our company can only be received by the person concerned if (1) the person concerned has a valid e-mail address and (2) the person concerned registers for the newsletter dispatch. For legal reasons, a confirmation e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address entered by a data subject for the first time for the newsletter dispatch using the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation e-mail is used to check whether the owner of the e-mail address, as the person concerned, has authorized receipt of the newsletter.

When registering for the newsletter, we also store the IP address assigned by the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of the computer system used by the person concerned at the time of registration, as well as the date and time of registration. The collection of this data is necessary in order to be able to understand the (possible) misuse of the e-mail address of a person concerned at a later point in time and therefore serves to provide legal protection for the person responsible for processing.

The personal data collected as part of registering for the newsletter will only be used to send our newsletter. Furthermore, subscribers to the newsletter could be informed by e-mail if this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or for registration in this regard, as could be the case in the event of changes to the newsletter offer or changes in the technical conditions. The personal data collected as part of the newsletter service will not be passed on to third parties. The subscription to our newsletter can be canceled by the data subject at any time. The consent to the storage of personal data that the person concerned has given us for sending the newsletter can be revoked at any time. There is a corresponding link in every newsletter for the purpose of revoking consent. It is also possible to unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time directly on the website of the person responsible for processing or to inform the person responsible for processing of this in another way.

7. Newsletter tracking

The newsletter of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH contains so-called tracking pixels. A tracking pixel is a miniature graphic that is embedded in e-mails that are sent in HTML format to enable log file recording and log file analysis. This allows a statistical evaluation of the success or failure of online marketing campaigns to be carried out. Based on the embedded tracking pixel, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH can see if and when an e-mail was opened by a data subject, and which links in the e-mail were called up by data subjects.

Such personal data collected via the tracking pixels contained in the newsletters are stored and evaluated by the person responsible for processing in order to optimize the newsletter dispatch and to adapt the content of future newsletters even better to the interests of the person concerned. This personal data will not be passed on to third parties. Affected persons are entitled at any time to revoke the relevant separate declaration of consent given via the double opt-in procedure. After a revocation, this personal data will be deleted by the person responsible for processing. The IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH automatically regards a withdrawal from the receipt of the newsletter as a revocation.

8. Contact option via the website

Due to legal regulations, the website of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH contains information that enables quick electronic contact to our company and direct communication with us, which also includes a general address for so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). If a person concerned contacts the person responsible for processing by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the person concerned will be automatically saved. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller are stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. This personal data will not be passed on to third parties.

9. Routine Deletion and Blocking of Personal Data

The person responsible for processing processes and stores the personal data of the person concerned only for the period of time necessary to achieve the purpose of storage or if this is required by the European directive and regulation giver or another legislator in laws or regulations which the person responsible for processing subject, was provided.

If the purpose of storage no longer applies or if a storage period prescribed by the European directive and regulation authority or another responsible legislator expires, the personal data will be blocked or deleted as a matter of routine and in accordance with the statutory provisions.

10. Rights of the data subject

a) Right to Confirmation

Every data subject has the right, granted by the European directive and regulation giver, to request confirmation from the person responsible for processing as to whether personal data relating to them are being processed. If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to confirmation, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.

b) Right to information

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European directive and regulation giver, to receive free information about the personal data stored about him and a copy of this information from the person responsible for processing at any time. Furthermore, the European legislator for directives and regulations has granted the data subject access to the following information:

  • the processing purposes
  • the categories of personal data being processed
  • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organizations
  • if possible, the planned duration for which the personal data will be stored or, if this is not possible, the criteria used to determine that duration
  • the existence of a right to correction or deletion of the personal data concerning you or to restriction of processing by the person responsible or a right to object to this processing
  • the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority
  •  if the personal data are not collected from the data subject: all available information about the origin of the data
  • the existence of automated decision-making including profiling in accordance with Article 22 (1) and (4) GDPR and - at least in these cases - meaningful information about the logic involved and the scope and intended effects of such processing for the data subject

Furthermore, the data subject has a right to information as to whether personal data has been transmitted to a third country or to an international organization. If this is the case, the person concerned has the right to receive information about the appropriate guarantees in connection with the transmission.

If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to information, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.

c) Right to rectification

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European directive and regulation giver to demand the immediate correction of incorrect personal data concerning them. Furthermore, the data subject has the right, taking into account the purposes of the processing, to request the completion of incomplete personal data - also by means of a supplementary declaration.

If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.

d) Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European directive and regulation giver to demand that the person responsible delete the personal data concerning them immediately if one of the following reasons applies and if the processing is not necessary:

  • The personal data were collected for purposes or otherwise processed for which they are no longer necessary.
  • The data subject revokes their consent on which the processing was based pursuant to Art. 6 Para. 1 Letter a DS-GVO or Art. 9 Para. 2 Letter a DS-GVO and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
  • The data subject objects to the processing in accordance with Art. 21 (1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate reasons for the processing, or the data subject objects in accordance with Art. 21 (2) GDPR the processing.
  • The personal data have been processed unlawfully.
  • The personal data must be erased for compliance with a legal obligation in Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
  • The personal data was collected in relation to information society services offered in accordance with Art. 8 Para. 1 DS-GVO.

If one of the above reasons applies and a person concerned wishes to have personal data stored at IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH deleted, he or she can contact an employee of the person responsible for processing at any time. The employee of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH will ensure that the request for deletion is complied with immediately.

If the personal data has been made public by the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH and our company, as the person responsible, is obliged to delete the personal data in accordance with Art. 17 Para measures appropriate to the implementation costs, also of a technical nature, to inform other persons responsible for data processing who process the published personal data that the data subject wants these other persons responsible for data processing to delete all links to this personal data or from has requested copies or replications of this personal data, insofar as the processing is not necessary. The employee of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH will arrange the necessary in individual cases.

e) Right to restriction of processing

Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European directive and regulation giver, to demand that the person responsible restrict the processing if one of the following conditions is met:

  • The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful, the data subject refuses to have the personal data deleted and instead requests that the use of the personal data be restricted.
  • The person responsible no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but the data subject needs them to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.
  • The data subject has lodged an objection to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.

If one of the above conditions is met and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of personal data stored at IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time. The employee of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH will arrange the restriction of the processing.

f) Right to data portability

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right, granted by the European directive and regulation giver, to receive the personal data relating to them, which the person concerned has provided to a person responsible, in a structured, common and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another person responsible without hindrance from the person responsible to whom the personal data was provided, provided that the processing is based on the consent in accordance with Art. 6 Para. 1 Letter a DS-GVO or Art. 9 Para 2 letter a DS-GVO or on a contract according to article 6 paragraph 1 letter b DS-GVO and the processing is carried out using automated procedures, provided that the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task that is in the public interest or takes place in the exercise of official authority, which has been transferred to the person responsible.

Furthermore, when exercising their right to data portability in accordance with Art. 20 Para the rights and freedoms of other persons are not impaired by this.

In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact an employee of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH.

g) Right to object

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European directive and regulation giver, for reasons arising from their particular situation, at any time against the processing of personal data concerning them, which is based on Art. 6 para. 1 letter e or f DS-GVO to file an objection. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.

The IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH will no longer process the personal data in the event of an objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which outweigh the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or the processing serves to assert exercise or defense of legal claims.

If the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH processes personal data in order to operate direct advertising, the person concerned has the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data for the purpose of such advertising. This also applies to profiling insofar as it is associated with such direct advertising. If the data subject objects to the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH to the processing for direct marketing purposes, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.

In addition, the data subject has the right, for reasons arising from their particular situation, against the processing of personal data relating to them, which is carried out at the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH for scientific or historical research purposes or for statistical purposes in accordance with Art. 89 Para. 1 DS-GVO to object, unless such processing is necessary to fulfill a task in the public interest.

In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject can contact any employee of the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH or another employee directly. The data subject is also free, in connection with the use of information society services, notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to exercise their right to object by automated means using technical specifications.

h) Automated decisions in individual cases including profiling

Any person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European legislator for directives and regulations not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing - including profiling - which has legal effects on them or significantly affects them in a similar way, if the decision (1) is not necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and the person responsible, or (2) is permissible on the basis of Union or Member State legislation to which the person responsible is subject and such legislation requires appropriate measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms and legitimate interests of the data subject or (3) is carried out with the express consent of the data subject.

If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject's explicit consent, the IFO Institut für Oberflächentechnik GmbH shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the rights and freedoms and to protect the legitimate interests of the data subject, including at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision.

If the data subject wishes to assert rights relating to automated decisions, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.

i) Right to withdraw consent under data protection law

Every person affected by the processing of personal data has the right granted by the European directive and regulation giver to revoke consent to the processing of personal data at any time.

If the data subject wishes to assert their right to revoke consent, they can contact an employee of the data controller at any time.

11. Data protection for applications and in the application process

The person responsible for processing collects and processes the personal data of applicants for the purpose of handling the application process. The processing can also take place electronically. This is particularly the case if an applicant sends the relevant application documents electronically, for example by email or via a web form on the website, to the person responsible for processing. If the person responsible for processing concludes an employment contract with an applicant, the transmitted data will be stored for the purpose of processing the employment relationship in compliance with the statutory provisions. If the person responsible for processing does not conclude an employment contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically deleted two months after notification of the rejection decision, provided that deletion does not conflict with any other legitimate interests of the person responsible for processing. Another legitimate interest in this sense is, for example, a burden of proof in proceedings under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

12. Data protection regulations for the application and use of Google Analytics (with anonymization function)

The person responsible for processing has integrated the Google Analytics component (with anonymization function) on this website. Google Analytics is a web analysis service. Web analysis is the collection, collection and evaluation of data about the behavior of visitors to websites. A web analysis service collects, among other things, data about the website from which a person concerned came to a website (so-called referrer), which subpages of the website were accessed or how often and for how long a subpage was viewed. A web analysis is mainly used to optimize a website and for the cost-benefit analysis of internet advertising.

The operating company of the Google Analytics component is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland.

The person responsible for processing uses the addition "_gat._anonymizeIp" for the web analysis via Google Analytics. With this addition, the IP address of the Internet connection of the person concerned is shortened and anonymized by Google if our website is accessed from a member state of the European Union or from another state party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

The purpose of the Google Analytics component is to analyze visitor flows on our website. Google uses the data and information obtained, among other things, to evaluate the use of our website, to compile online reports for us that show the activities on our website, and to provide other services related to the use of our website.

Google Analytics places a cookie on the information technology system of the data subject. What cookies are has already been explained above. By setting the cookie, Google is able to analyze the use of our website. Each time one of the individual pages of this website is called up, which is operated by the person responsible for processing and on which a Google Analytics component has been integrated, the Internet browser on the information technology system of the person concerned is automatically activated by the respective Google Analytics component to transmit data to Google for online analysis. As part of this technical process, Google gains knowledge of personal data, such as the IP address of the person concerned, which Google uses, among other things, to trace the origin of visitors and clicks and subsequently to enable commission statements.

The cookie is used to store personal information, such as access time, the location from which access was made and the frequency of visits to our website by the person concerned. Each time you visit our website, this personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the person concerned, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass on this personal data collected via the technical process to third parties.

The person concerned can prevent the setting of cookies by our website, as already described above, at any time by means of a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Such a setting of the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from setting a cookie on the information technology system of the person concerned. In addition, a cookie already set by Google Analytics can be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject has the option of objecting to and preventing the collection of data generated by Google Analytics relating to the use of this website and the processing of this data by Google. To do this, the data subject must download and install a browser add-on from the link tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. This browser add-on tells Google Analytics via JavaScript that no data and information about visits to websites may be transmitted to Google Analytics. The installation of the browser add-on is evaluated by Google as a contradiction. If the information technology system of the data subject is later deleted, formatted or reinstalled, the data subject must reinstall the browser add-on in order to deactivate Google Analytics. If the browser add-on is uninstalled or deactivated by the person concerned or another person who is attributable to their sphere of influence, there is the possibility of reinstalling or reactivating the browser add-on.

Further information and Google's applicable data protection regulations can be found at www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/ and at www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html. Google Analytics is explained in more detail under this link www.google.com/intl/de_de/analytics/.

 

13. Data protection regulations for the deployment and use of Google AdWords

The person responsible for processing has integrated Google AdWords on this website. Google AdWords is an internet advertising service that allows advertisers to place ads in both Google's search engine results and the Google advertising network. Google AdWords allows an advertiser to pre-define certain keywords that will be used to display an ad in Google's search engine results only when the user uses the search engine to retrieve a keyword-related search result. In the Google advertising network, the ads are distributed to topic-relevant websites using an automatic algorithm and taking into account the previously defined keywords.

The operator of the Google AdWords services is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland.

The purpose of Google AdWords is to promote our website by displaying interest-based advertising on the websites of third-party companies and in the search engine results of the Google search engine and displaying third-party advertising on our website.

If a person concerned reaches our website via a Google ad, a so-called conversion cookie is stored on the information technology system of the person concerned by Google. What cookies are has already been explained above. A conversion cookie loses its validity after thirty days and is not used to identify the person concerned. If the cookie has not yet expired, the conversion cookie is used to determine whether certain sub-pages, such as the shopping cart from an online shop system, were accessed on our website. The conversion cookie enables both us and Google to understand whether a person who came to our website via an AdWords ad generated revenue, i.e. completed or canceled a purchase.

The data and information collected through the use of the conversion cookie are used by Google to create visit statistics for our website. In turn, we use these visit statistics to determine the total number of users who were referred to us via AdWords ads, i.e. to determine the success or failure of the respective AdWords ad and to optimize our AdWords ads for the future . Neither our company nor other Google AdWords advertisers receive information from Google that could be used to identify the person concerned.

The conversion cookie is used to store personal information, such as the website visited by the person concerned. Accordingly, each time you visit our website, personal data, including the IP address of the Internet connection used by the person concerned, is transmitted to Google in the United States of America. This personal data is stored by Google in the United States of America. Google may pass on this personal data collected via the technical process to third parties.

The person concerned can prevent the setting of cookies by our website, as already described above, at any time by means of a corresponding setting in the Internet browser used and thus permanently object to the setting of cookies. Such a setting of the Internet browser used would also prevent Google from setting a conversion cookie on the information technology system of the person concerned. In addition, a cookie already set by Google AdWords can be deleted at any time via the Internet browser or other software programs.

Furthermore, the data subject has the option of objecting to interest-based advertising by Google. To do this, the person concerned must call up the link www.google.de/settings/ads from each of the Internet browsers they use and make the desired settings there.

Further information and Google's applicable data protection regulations can be found at www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

14. Data protection regulations for the deployment and use of social media

We offer you the opportunity to stay in touch with us via our social media pages (LinkedIn, Xing). These media services collect personal data themselves, e.g. via your profile created there or via social plugins that are integrated into third-party websites.

Websites or newsletters that have such a plugin integrated enable your browser to establish a direct connection with the servers of the respective company. The content of the plugins is transmitted directly to your browser and integrated into the website. We have no influence on the scope of the data collected. According to our state of knowledge, we therefore inform you about the information transmitted in the context of the company's own offer.

By integrating the plugins, the respective companies (LinkedIn, Xing) receive the information that you have accessed our newsletter page via the corresponding interface. If you are logged in to one of the companies mentioned above, they can assign the visit to your account there. If you interact with the plugin, the corresponding information is transmitted directly from your browser to the respective company and stored there. If there is no account, there is a possibility that the IP address can be saved.

To protect your privacy, please refer to the data protection notices of the companies mentioned above for more information on the purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data, as well as your rights and setting options.

15. Privacy Policy for Using Microsoft Forms to Conduct Surveys

Our surveys are conducted using the Microsoft Forms tool. Participation in the surveys is voluntary and independent of the use of our products and services. The results of the surveys, which are carried out using the Microsoft Forms tool, are evaluated anonymously, which means that no conclusions can be drawn about individual participants unless the participant expressly expresses a wish to be contacted and states this in the survey. The invitation to participate in a survey is usually sent by sending a participation link by email or by scanning a QR code.

Please note that the use of the Microsoft Forms tool is subject to Microsoft's data protection regulations. For detailed information on the privacy policy of the Microsoft Forms tool, we recommend that you consult the relevant Microsoft privacy policy.

16. Legal Basis for Processing

Art. 6 I lit. a DS-GVO serves our company as the legal basis for processing operations for which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary to fulfill a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations that are necessary for the delivery of goods or the provision of another service or consideration, the processing is based on Art. 6 I lit. b GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations that are necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures, for example in the case of inquiries about our products or services. If our company is subject to a legal obligation which requires the processing of personal data, such as the fulfillment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6 I lit. c GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data could become necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured in our company and his name, age, health insurance data or other vital information would have to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6 I lit. d GDPR.

Ultimately, processing operations could be based on Art. 6 I lit. f GDPR. Processing operations that are not covered by any of the aforementioned legal bases are based on this legal basis if the processing is necessary to protect a legitimate interest of our company or a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and fundamental freedoms of the person concerned do not prevail. Such processing operations are permitted to us in particular because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In this respect, he took the view that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a customer of the person responsible (recital 47 sentence 2 DS-GVO).

17. Legitimate interests in processing pursued by the controller or a third party

If the processing of personal data is based on Article 6 I lit. f GDPR, our legitimate interest is conducting our business for the benefit of all our employees and our shareholders.

18. Duration for which the personal data will be stored

The criterion for the duration of the storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After the deadline has expired, the corresponding data will be routinely deleted, provided that they are no longer required to fulfill the contract or to initiate a contract.

19. Statutory or contractual requirements for providing the personal data; Necessity for the conclusion of the contract; obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of non-provision

We clarify that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or can also result from contractual regulations (e.g. information on the contractual partner).

Sometimes it may be necessary for a contract to be concluded that a person concerned makes personal data available to us, which must then be processed by us. For example, the data subject is obliged to provide us with personal data if our company concludes a contract with them. Failure to provide the personal data would mean that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded.

Before personal data is provided by the data subject, the data subject must contact one of our employees. Our employee clarifies to the data subject on a case-by-case basis whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract or is necessary for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data and what the consequences would be if the personal data were not provided.

20. Existence of automated decision-making

As a responsible company, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.

This data protection declaration was created by the data protection declaration generator of the DGD Deutsche Gesellschaft für Datenschutz GmbH, which acts as the external data protection officer in Duisburg, in cooperation with the Cologne-based IT and data protection lawyer Christian Solmecke and own supplements.