Data Protection

1. Introduction

With the following information, we would like to provide you, as a ‘data subject’, with an overview of how we process your personal data and your rights under data protection laws. In principle, it is possible to use our website without providing personal data. However, if you wish to make use of specific services offered by our company via our website, the processing of personal data may be necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we will generally seek your consent.

The processing of personal data, such as your name, your address or your email address, always takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in compliance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to “thoenes Dichtungstechnik GmbH”. Through this privacy policy, we wish to inform you about the scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process.

As the data controller, we have implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most comprehensive possible protection of the personal data processed via this website. Nevertheless, internet-based data transmissions may, in principle, be subject to security vulnerabilities, meaning that absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, you are free to provide us with personal data via alternative channels, such as by telephone or post.

You too can take simple and easy-to-implement measures to protect yourself against unauthorised access to your data by third parties. We would therefore like to provide you with some advice on the secure handling of your data :

Protect your account (login, user or customer account) and your IT system (computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device) with strong passwords.
Only you should have access to these passwords. Ensure that you only ever use your passwords for a single account (login, user or customer account).
Do not use the same password for different websites, applications or online services.
This applies in particular when using publicly accessible IT systems or those shared with others: You must log out after every session on a website, application or online service.

Passwords should consist of at least 12 characters and be chosen so that they cannot be easily guessed. Therefore, they should not contain common everyday words, your own name or the names of relatives, but should include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.

2. Data Controller

The data controller within the meaning of the GDPR is :

thoenes Dichtungstechnik GmbH Zeppelinstraße 1, 01665 Klipphausen, Germany

Telephone: +49 35204
39280 Fax: +49 35204
392850 Email: info@thoenes-solution.com

Representatives of the data controller: Thomas Zocher, Dr Rudolf Zocher

3. Data Protection Officer

Please note that no data protection officer needs to be appointed.

The contact person for data protection matters: info@thoenes-solution.com

4. Definitions

This privacy policy is based on the terminology used by the European legislators and regulators when enacting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our privacy policy is intended to be easy to read and understand 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.

In this privacy policy, we use the following terms

amongst others :

1. Personal data

Personal data refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. A natural person is considered identifiable if they can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person,

2. Data subject

A data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller (our company).

3. Processing

Processing means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

4. Restriction of processing

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

5. Profiling

Profiling is any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

6. Pseudonymisation

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

7. Data processor

A data processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

8. Recipient

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

9. Third party

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

10. Consent

Consent means any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject’s wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

Our services are generally aimed at adults. Persons under the age of 16 may not transmit any personal data to us without the consent of their parents or legal guardians. We do not request personal data from children and young people, do not collect such data and do not pass it on to third parties.

5. Transfer of data to third parties

Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.

We will only disclose your personal data to third parties if :

1. you have given us your express consent to do so in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR,

2. the disclosure is permissible under Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR to safeguard our legitimate interests and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding legitimate interest in the non-disclosure of your data,

3. in the event that there is a legal obligation to disclose data pursuant to Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR, as well as

4. this is legally permissible and necessary pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR for the performance of contractual relationships with you.

To protect your data and, where necessary, to enable data transfers to third countries (outside the EU/EEA), we have entered into data processing agreements based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. If the Standard Contractual Clauses are insufficient to ensure an adequate level of security, your consent pursuant to Article 49(1)(a) of the GDPR may serve as the legal basis for the transfer to third countries. This does not apply, however, to data transfers to third countries for which the European Commission has issued an adequacy decision in accordance with Article 45 of the GDPR.

Your personal data will not be transferred to third parties for purposes other than those listed below.

We will only disclose your personal data to third parties if :

1. you have given us your explicit consent to do so in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR,

3. in the event that there is a legal obligation for the disclosure under Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR, as well as

4. this is legally permissible and necessary under Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR for the performance of contractual relationships with you.

As part of the processing operations described in this privacy policy, personal data may be transferred to the USA. The USA does not have an adequate level of data protection (ECJ: Schrems II ruling). In particular, US investigative authorities may compel US companies to hand over or disclose personal data without the data subjects being able to take effective legal action against this. Consequently, there is a possibility that your personal data may be processed by US investigative authorities. We have no influence over these processing activities. To protect your data, we have entered into data processing agreements based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses. Where the Standard Contractual Clauses are insufficient to ensure an adequate level of security, your consent pursuant to Art. 49(1)(a) of the GDPR. This does not apply, however, to data transfers to third countries for which the European Commission has issued an adequacy decision in accordance with Article 45 of the GDPR.

6. Technology

6.1 SSL/TLSencryption

This site uses SSL or TLS encryption to ensure the security of data processing and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders, login details or contact enquiries, which you send to us as the operator. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the address bar of your browser displays “https://” instead of “http://”, and by the padlock symbol in your browser bar.

We use this technology to protect the data you transmit.

6.2 Data collection when visiting the website

When you use our website for information purposes only – i.e. without registering or otherwise transmitting information to us – we collect only the data that your browser transmits to our server (in so-called “server log files”). Our website records a range of general data and information each time a page is accessed by you or by an automated system. This general data and information is stored in the server’s log files. The following may be recorded

1. browser types and versions used,

2. the operating system used by the accessing system,

3. the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrer),

4. the sub-pages accessed via an accessing system on our website,

5. the date and time of access to the website,

6. an Internet Protocol address (IP address) and,

7. the Internet service provider of the accessing system.

We do not draw any conclusions about your identity when using this general data and information. Rather, this information is required to

1. deliver the content of our website correctly,

2. optimise the content of our website and the advertising for it,

3. ensure the long-term functionality of our IT systems and the technology of our website

as well as

4. provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in the event of a cyberattack.

We therefore evaluate this collected data and information both statistically and with the aim of enhancing data protection and data security within our company, ultimately to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The data from the server log files is stored separately from any personal data provided by a data subject.

The legal basis for data processing is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest arises from the purposes of data collection listed above.

6.3 Encrypted payment transactions

If, following the conclusion of a contract involving a fee, there is an obligation to provide us with your payment details (e.g. your account number when granting a direct debit authorisation), this data is required for payment processing.

Payment transactions using standard payment methods (Visa/MasterCard or direct debit) are carried out exclusively via an encrypted SSL or TLS connection. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser’s address bar changes from “http://” to "https://" and by the padlock symbol in your browser bar.

We use this technology to protect the data you transmit.

7. Cookies

7.1 General information on cookies

Cookies are small files that your browser creates automatically and which are stored on your IT system (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our website.

Information is stored in the cookie that relates to the specific device used. However, this does not mean that we thereby gain direct knowledge of your identity.

The use of cookies serves to make the use of our website more convenient for you. For example, we use so-called session cookies to recognise that you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted when you leave our site.

In addition, we also use temporary cookies to optimise user-friendliness; these are stored on your device for a specific, defined period. If you visit our site again to use our services, the system automatically recognises that you have previously visited us and recalls the entries and settings you made, so that you do not have to re-enter them.

We also use cookies to collect statistical data on the use of our website and to evaluate our offering for you for the purpose of optimisation. These cookies enable us to automatically recognise that you have already visited our website when you visit it again. The cookies set in this way are automatically deleted after a defined period of time. The respective storage periods of the cookies can be found in the settings of the consent tool used.

7.2 Legal basis for the use of cookies

The data processed by the cookies, which is required for the proper functioning of the website, is therefore necessary to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

For all other cookies, you have given your consent via our opt-in cookie banner in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

7.3 Information on blocking cookies in common browsers

You can use the settings in your browser to delete cookies, allow only selected cookies or disable cookies completely at any time. Further information is available on the support pages of the respective providers :

Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?tid=311178978.
Safari: https://support.apple.com/de-at/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac?tid=311178978.
Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-und-website-daten-in-firefox-loschen?tid=311178978.
Microsoft Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/microsoft-edge/cookies-in-microsoft-edge-l%C3%B6schen-63947406-40ac-c3b8-57b9-2a946a29ae09.

8. Content of our website

8.1 User registration

You have the option to register on our website by providing personal data.

The personal data transmitted to us in this process is determined by the respective input form used for registration. The personal data you enter is collected and stored exclusively for our internal use and for our own purposes. We may arrange for the data to be passed on to one or more processors, such as a parcel delivery service, which will also use the personal data exclusively for internal purposes attributable to us

Furthermore, when you register on our website, the IP address assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as the date and time of registration, are stored. This data is stored on the basis that this is the only way to prevent misuse of our services, and that this data enables the investigation of criminal offences where necessary. In this respect, the storage of this data is necessary for our protection. This data is not passed on to third parties under any circumstances. This does not apply if we are legally obliged to disclose the data or if disclosure serves the purposes of criminal prosecution.

Your registration, involving the voluntary provision of personal data, also enables us to offer you content or services which, by their very nature, can only be made available to registered users. Registered users are free to amend the personal data provided during registration at any time or to have it completely deleted from our database.

We will provide you with information at any time, upon request, regarding which personal data we hold about you. Furthermore, we will correct or delete personal data at your request, provided that this does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations. A data protection officer named in this privacy policy and all other staff members are available to the data subject as points of contact in this regard.

The processing of your data is carried out in the interests of ensuring a convenient and straightforward experience when using our website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) f of the GDPR.

8.2 Data processing when opening a customer account and for contract fulfilment

In accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, personal data is collected and processed when you provide it to us for the performance of a contract or when opening a customer account. The data collected is evident from the respective input forms. You may delete your customer account at any time; this can be done, amongst other things, by sending a message to the above-mentioned address of the data controller. We store and use the data you provide for the purpose of contract fulfilment. Once the contract has been fully fulfilled or your customer account has been deleted, your data will be blocked in accordance with tax and commercial law retention periods and deleted upon expiry of these periods, provided you have not expressly consented to further use of your data or we have reserved the right to further use your data as permitted by law, about which we inform you below.

8.3 Data processing for order fulfilment

The personal data we collect is passed on to the transport company commissioned with the delivery as part of contract fulfilment, insofar as this is necessary for the delivery of the goods. We pass on your payment details to the commissioned bank as part of the payment processing, provided this is necessary for the payment to be processed. Where payment service providers are used, we provide explicit information on this below. The legal basis for the transfer of data in this context is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

8.4 Data processing for identity verification

Where necessary, we verify your identity on the legal basis of Article 6(1)(b) and (f) of the GDPR, drawing on information from service providers. The justification for this stems from the protection of your identity and the prevention of fraud attempts at our expense. The fact that we made the enquiry and its outcome will be stored in your customer account or guest account for the duration of the contractual relationship.

8.5 Concluding contracts via the online shop, retailers and goods dispatch

We only transfer personal data to third parties if this is necessary for the fulfilment of the contract, for example to companies responsible for delivering the goods or to the bank handling the payment. No further transfer of data takes place, or only if you have expressly consented to such transfer. Your data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent, for example for advertising purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, which permits the processing of data for the performance of a contract or pre-contractual measures.

8.6 Contacting

/ Contact form

Personal data is collected when you contact us (e.g. via the contact form or by email). The data collected when using a contact form is specified in the respective contact form. This data is stored and used exclusively for the purpose of responding to your enquiry or for establishing contact and the associated technical administration. The legal basis for processing the data is our legitimate interest in responding to your enquiry in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR. Your data will be deleted once your enquiry has been fully processed, which is the case when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively resolved and there are no statutory retention obligations preventing deletion.

8.7 Blog comment function

We offer users on a blog located on our website the opportunity to leave individual comments on specific blog posts. A blog is a portal hosted on a website, usually accessible to the public, where one or more people, known as bloggers or web bloggers, can post articles or write down their thoughts in so-called blog posts. These blog posts can usually be commented on by third parties.

If you leave a comment on the blog published on this website, in addition to the comments you leave, details of the time the comment was submitted and the username you have chosen will also be stored and published. Furthermore, the IP address assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is also logged. This storage of the IP address is carried out for security reasons and in the event that you have infringed the rights of third parties or posted unlawful content through a comment you have submitted. The storage of this personal data is therefore in our own interest, so that we can exculpate ourselves in the event of a legal infringement. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. This personal data will not be disclosed to third parties unless such disclosure is required by law or serves to defend our legal rights.

8.8 Application Management / Job Board

We collect and process the personal data of applicants for the purpose of handling the application process. Processing may also take place electronically. This is particularly the case where an applicant submits the relevant application documents to us electronically, for example by email or via a web form on the website. If we enter into an employment or service contract with an applicant, the data submitted will be stored for the purpose of managing the employment relationship in accordance with statutory provisions. If we do not conclude a contract with the applicant, the application documents will be automatically deleted two months after notification of the rejection decision, provided that no other legitimate interests on our part preclude such deletion. An example of such a legitimate interest is a duty to provide evidence in proceedings under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

The legal basis for the processing of your data is Art. 88 GDPR in conjunction with Section 26(1) BDSG.

9. Newsletter distribution

9.1 Marketing newsletter

On our website, you are given the opportunity to subscribe to our company’s newsletter. The personal data transmitted to us when subscribing to the newsletter is determined by the input form used for this purpose.

We inform our customers and business partners about our offers at regular intervals via a newsletter. You can generally only receive our company’s newsletter if

1. you have a valid email address and

2. you have registered to receive the newsletter.

For legal reasons, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you initially provided for the newsletter using the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation email serves to verify that you, as the owner of the email address, have authorised the receipt of the newsletter.

When you subscribe to the newsletter, we also store the IP address of the IT system you were using at the time of registration, as assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP), as well as the date and time of registration. The collection of this data is necessary to be able to trace any (potential) misuse of your email address at a later date and therefore serves to protect us legally.

The personal data collected when you subscribe to the newsletter is used exclusively for sending our newsletter. Furthermore, subscribers to the newsletter may be informed by email if this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or for registration purposes, as might be the case with changes to the newsletter content or alterations to the technical conditions. Personal data collected in connection with the newsletter service will not be passed on to third parties. You may cancel your subscription to our newsletter at any time. You may withdraw your consent to the storage of personal data provided to us for the purpose of sending the newsletter at any time. A link for this purpose is included in every newsletter. Furthermore, you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time directly on our website or notify us in another way.

The legal basis for data processing for the purpose of sending the newsletter is Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

9.2 CleverReach

This website uses CleverReach to send newsletters. The provider is CleverReach GmbH & Co. KG, (CRASH Building), Schafjückenweg 2, 26180 Rastede. CleverReach is a service that enables the organisation and analysis of newsletter distribution. The data you provide for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter (e.g. your email address) is stored on CleverReach’s servers in Germany or Ireland.

Our newsletters sent via CleverReach enable us to analyse the behaviour of newsletter recipients. This allows us to analyse, amongst other things, how many recipients opened the newsletter and how often which link in the newsletter was clicked. With the help of so-called conversion tracking, it is also possible to analyse whether a predefined action (e.g. the purchase of a product on our website) took place after clicking on a link in the newsletter. Further information on data analysis via CleverReach newsletters is available at: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/funktionen/reporting-und-tracking/.

Data processing is carried out on the basis of your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR). You may withdraw this consent at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. The lawfulness of data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the withdrawal.

If you do not wish to be analysed by CleverReach, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter. We provide a link for this purpose in every newsletter message. Furthermore

you can also unsubscribe from the newsletter directly on the website.

You may withdraw the consent you have given at any time. You can also prevent processing at any time by unsubscribing from the newsletter. You can also prevent the storage of cookies by adjusting the settings in your web browser. You can also prevent the storage and transmission of personal data by disabling JavaScript in your web browser or by installing a JavaScript blocker (e.g. https://noscript.net or https://www.ghostery.com). Please note that these measures may mean that not all functions of our website are available.

The data you have provided to us for the purpose of receiving the newsletter will be stored by us until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from both our servers and the servers of CleverReach once you have unsubscribed. Data stored by us for other purposes (e.g. email addresses for the members’ area) remains unaffected by this.

You can view CleverReach’s privacy policy at: https://www.cleverreach.com/de/datenschutz/.

10. Web analytics

10.1 Google Analytics 4 (GA4)

On our websites, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”).

In this context, pseudonymised user profiles are created and cookies (see section “Cookies”) are used. The information generated by the cookie regarding your use of this website may include, amongst other things

a temporary recording of the IP address without permanent storage
location data
browser type/version
operating system used
referrer URL (previously visited page)
time of the server request

The pseudonymised data may be transferred by Google to a server in the USA and stored there.

The information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services related to website and internet usage for the purposes of market research and the needs-based design of these web pages. This information may also be transferred to third parties where required by law or where third parties process this data on our behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other data held by Google.

These processing operations take place exclusively upon the granting of express consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Further information on data protection when using GA4 can be found at: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/12017362?hl=de.

10.2 Google Analytics Universal

On our websites, we use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”). In this context, pseudonymised user profiles are created and cookies (see section “Cookies”) are used. The information generated by the cookie regarding your use of this website, such as

1. the browser type/version,

2. the operating system used,

3. the referrer URL (the previously visited page),

4. the host name of the accessing computer (IP address) and

5. the time of the server request,

are transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide further services related to website and internet usage for the purposes of market research and the needs-based design of these web pages. This information may also be transferred to third parties where required by law or where third parties process this data on behalf of Google. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other data held by Google. IP addresses are anonymised so that they cannot be linked to you (IP masking).

You can prevent the installation of cookies by adjusting your browser settings accordingly; however, we would like to point out that in this case, you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent.

These processing operations take place exclusively upon the granting of express consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de). Alternatively, you can remove the cookies via the following link: Google Analytics Opt-Out.

You can view the Google Analytics privacy policy at: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

10.3 Microsoft Clarity

We use Microsoft Clarity. “Microsoft Clarity” refers to a Microsoft process that enables user analysis based on a pseudonymous user ID and thus on pseudonymous data, such as the evaluation of data on mouse movements or performance data relating to specific websites.

In doing so, we process, in particular, usage data (e.g. websites visited, interest in content, access times), meta/communication data (e.g. device information, IP addresses), location data (information on the geographical position of a device or a person), and movement data (mouse movements, scrolling movements) in pseudonymised form. We have configured the relevant settings so that data collection by and via Microsoft is pseudonymised from the outset, in particular through IP masking (pseudonymisation of the IP address).

This data processing affects all users of our website who have consented to the relevant use via our cookie consent service. Data processing is therefore carried out solely on the basis of your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

The purpose of the processing is tracking (e.g. interest-based/behavioural profiling, use of cookies), remarketing, conversion measurement (measuring the effectiveness of marketing measures), interest-based and behavioural marketing, profiling (creation of user profiles), reach measurement (e.g. access statistics, identification of returning users), cross-device tracking (cross-device processing of user data for marketing purposes).

You are hereby informed of your rights to object in accordance with this privacy policy. You can also opt out with the respective provider.

a) Europe: https://www.youronlinechoices.eu.

b) Canada: https://www.youradchoices.ca/choices.

c) USA: https://www.aboutads.info/choices.

d) Global: https://optout.aboutads.info.

Microsoft Clarity: Online marketing and web analytics; provided by Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA; website: https://clarity.microsoft.com; privacy policy: https://privacy.microsoft.com/de-de/privacystatement; opt-out option: https://choice.microsoft.com/de-DE/opt-out.

11. Plugins and other services

11.1 Google Maps

We use Google Maps (API) on our website. The operator of Google Maps is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google Ireland Limited is part of the Google group of companies, headquartered at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Google Maps is a web service for displaying interactive (land) maps to present geographical information visually. By using this service, for example, our location can be displayed and any journey to us made easier.

As soon as you access any subpages on which the Google Maps map is embedded, information about your use of our website (such as your IP address) is transmitted to Google’s servers in the USA and stored there. In addition, Google Maps loads the Google Web Fonts. Google Ireland Limited is also the provider of the Google Web Fonts. When you visit a page that embeds Google Maps, your browser loads the web fonts required to display Google Maps into your browser cache. For this purpose, too, the browser you are using establishes a connection to Google’s servers. This enables Google to ascertain that our website has been accessed via your IP address. This occurs regardless of whether Google provides a user account through which you are logged in, or whether no user account exists. If you are logged in to Google, your data will be directly associated with your account. If you do not wish for this association with your Google profile, you must log out of your Google user account. Google stores your data (even for users who are not logged in) as usage profiles and analyses them. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles; to exercise this right, you must contact Google.

If you do not consent to the future transmission of your data to Google in connection with the use of Google Maps, you also have the option of completely disabling the Google Maps web service by disabling JavaScript in your browser. Google Maps, and therefore the map display on this website, cannot then be used.

These processing operations take place exclusively upon the granting of explicit consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.

You can view Google’s Terms of Service at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/terms/regional.html; the additional terms of use for Google Maps can be found at https://www.google.com/intl/de_US/help/terms_maps.html

You can view the Google Maps privacy policy at: ("Google Privacy Policy"): https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

11.2 Google Tag Manager

We use the Google Tag Manager service on this website. The operator of Google Tag Manager is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google Ireland Limited is part of the Google group of companies, headquartered at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.

This tool allows ‘website tags’ (i.e. keywords embedded in HTML elements) to be implemented and managed via a user interface. By using Google Tag Manager, we can automatically track which button, link or personalised image you have actively clicked on and can then determine which content on our website is of particular interest to you.

The tool also triggers other tags, which may in turn collect data. Google Tag Manager does not access this data. If you have disabled tracking at domain or cookie level, this setting will apply to all tracking tags implemented using Google Tag Manager.

These processing operations take place exclusively upon the granting of explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Further information on Google Tag Manager and Google’s privacy policy can be found at: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

11.3 audatis MANAGER (Whistleblowing System)

We use the whistleblowing system of audatis MANAGER provided by audatis Services GmbH, Luisenstraße 1, 32052 Herford.

The whistleblowing system enables the submission, receipt and investigation of reports in order to prevent and detect breaches of applicable law or company policies and/or to take follow-up action.

The following data, amongst others, may be collected, provided that the report is not made anonymously
:

Information for the personal identification of the whistleblower, such as first name and surname, address, telephone number and email address;
Employment details;
Information regarding the data subject named in the report, such as first name and surname, gender, address, telephone number and email address;
information regarding breaches which may allow conclusions to be drawn about a natural person.

Data processing relating to information for the personal identification of the whistleblower is carried out on the basis of the legal obligation under the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) in accordance with Art. 6(1)(c) of the GDPR.

If further information regarding the employee’s status, information about the data subject, or other information that allows conclusions to be drawn about natural persons is processed, this is done either to fulfil legal obligations under the Whistleblower Protection Act (HinSchG) in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR, or, in the case of the voluntary provision of a whistleblowing system, on the basis of a legitimate interest in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest lies in processing reports in order to be able to take follow-up action.

Further information on the data protection provisions of audatis MANAGER can be found at: https://www.audatis-manager.de/datenschutz/

12. Payment providers

12.1 PayPal

We have integrated PayPal components into this website. The European operating company of PayPal is PayPal (Europe) S.à.r.l. & Cie. S.C.A., 22-24 Boulevard Royal, 2449 Luxembourg, Luxembourg. PayPal is an online payment service provider. Payments are processed via so-called PayPal accounts, which are virtual personal or business accounts. PayPal also offers the option of processing virtual payments via credit cards if a user does not hold a PayPal account. A PayPal account is managed via an email address, which is why there is no traditional account number. PayPal enables users to initiate online payments to third parties or to receive payments. PayPal also acts as a trustee and offers buyer protection services.

If you select “PayPal” as your payment method during the ordering process in our online shop, your data will be automatically transmitted to PayPal. By selecting this payment option, you consent to the transmission of personal data required for payment processing.

The personal data transmitted to PayPal generally consists of your first and last names, address, email address, IP address, telephone number, mobile phone number or other data necessary for payment processing. Personal data relating to the specific order is also required to fulfil the purchase contract.

The purpose of the data transfer is payment processing and fraud prevention. We will transfer personal data to PayPal in particular where there is a legitimate interest in doing so. The personal data exchanged between PayPal and us may be transferred by PayPal to credit reference agencies. The purpose of this transfer is to verify identity and creditworthiness.

PayPal may pass on personal data to affiliated companies, service providers or subcontractors where this is necessary to fulfil contractual obligations or where the data is to be processed on their behalf.

You have the option to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time by contacting PayPal. Withdrawal does not affect personal data that must be processed, used or transmitted for the purposes of (contractual) payment processing.

The use of PayPal is in the interest of proper and smooth payment processing. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Your personal data will only be transferred if you have given your explicit consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

PayPal’s applicable privacy policy can be accessed at https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.

13. Your rights as a data subject

13.1 Right to confirmation

You have the right to request confirmation from us as to whether personal data concerning you is being processed.

13.2 Right of access Art. 15 GDPR

You have the right to obtain from us, free of charge, information at any time regarding the personal data stored about you, as well as a copy of this data in accordance with the statutory provisions.

13.3 Right to rectification Art. 16 GDPR

You have the right to request the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you. Furthermore, you have the right to request the completion of incomplete personal data, taking into account the purposes of the processing.

13.4 Erasure Art. 17 GDPR

You have the right to request that we erase personal data concerning you without undue delay, provided that one of the grounds provided for by law applies and insofar as processing or storage is not necessary.

13.5 Restriction of processing Art. 18 GDPR

You have the right to request that we restrict processing if one of the legal conditions is met.

13.6 Data portability Art. 20 GDPR

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another controller to whom the personal data has been provided, without hindrance from us, provided that the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) a of the GDPR or Article 9(2)(a) of the GDPR, or on a contract pursuant to Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, provided that the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in us.

Furthermore, when exercising your right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) of the GDPR, you have the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another controller, insofar as this is technically feasible and provided that this does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

13.7 Objection under

Article 21 of the GDPR

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) (data processing in the public interest) or (f) (data processing based on a balancing of interests) of the GDPR.

This also applies to profiling based on these provisions within the meaning of Article 4(4) of the GDPR.

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 where the processing serves to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

In certain cases, we process personal data for the purposes of direct marketing. You may object at any time to the processing of your personal data for such marketing purposes. This also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If you object to us processing your data for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process your personal data for these purposes.

Furthermore, you have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out by us for scientific or historical research purposes or for statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

You are free to exercise your right to object, in connection with the use of information society services, notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, by means of automated procedures using technical specifications.

13.8 Withdrawal of consent under data protection law

You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time with effect for the future.

13.9 Complaint to a supervisory authority

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority responsible for data protection regarding our processing of personal data.

14. Routine storage, erasure and blocking of personal data

We process and store your personal data only for the period necessary to fulfil the purpose of storage or insofar as this is required by the legal provisions to which our company is subject.

If the purpose of storage ceases to apply or a prescribed retention period expires, the personal data is routinely blocked or deleted in accordance with legal requirements.

15. Duration of storage of personal data

The criterion for the duration of storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. Once the period has expired, the relevant data is routinely deleted, provided it is no longer required for the performance of a contract or for entering into a contract.

16. Validity and amendments to the privacy policy

This privacy policy is currently valid and is dated: December 2022.

Due to the further development of our website and services, or as a

result of changes to legal or regulatory requirements, it may become necessary to amend this privacy policy. You can access and print the current privacy policy at any time on the website at https://thoenes-solutions.com/privatsphaere-und-datenschutz.