Privacy policy

1. Data protection at a glance

General notes
The following notices provide a simple overview of what happens to your data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data by which you can be personally identified. For detailed information on the subject of data protection, please refer to our privacy policy listed below this text.
Data collection on this website
Who is responsible for the data collection on this website?
The website operator carries out data processing on this website. You can find their contact details in the section “Information on the responsible office” in this data protection declaration.
How do we collect your data?
On the one hand, your data is collected by you providing it to us. This may be, for example, data that you enter in a contact form. On the other hand, other data is collected automatically or after your consent when visiting the website by our IT systems. This is mainly technical data (e.g., Internet browser, operating system, or time of page view). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.
What do we use your data for?
Part of the data is collected to ensure error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyze your user behavior.
What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to receive information free of charge about the origin, recipient and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have a right to request the correction or deletion of this data. If you have given your consent to data processing, you can revoke this consent at any time in the future. You also have the right to request the restriction of processing your data under certain circumstances.

Furthermore, you have the right to complain about the competent supervisory authority. You can contact us at any time concerning this and other questions on the subject of data protection.

Third-party analytics and tools

When visiting this website, your surfing behavior can be statistically analyzed. This is done mainly with so-called analysis programs. Detailed information about these analysis programs can be found in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting and Content Delivery Networks (CDN)

External hosting

This website is hosted by an external service provider (hoster). The personal data collected on this website is stored on the hoster’s servers. This may include, but is not limited to, IP addresses, contact requests, meta and communication data, contractual data, contact data, names, website accesses and other data generated via a website.

The hoster is used to fulfill contracts with our potential and existing customers (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO) and in the interest of a safe, fast and efficient provision of our online offer by a professional provider (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO).
Our hoster will only process your data to the extent necessary to fulfill its service obligations and will follow our instructions regarding this data.

We use the following hoster:
RAIDBOXES GmbH
Hafenstraße 32
48153 Münster

Conclusion of a contract for order processing

To ensure data protection-compliant processing, we have concluded an order processing contract with our hoster.

3. General notes and mandatory information

Privacy Policy

The operators of these pages take the protection of your data very seriously. Therefore, we treat your data confidentially and following the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how this is done and for what purpose.

We want to point out that data transmission on the Internet (e.g., when communicating by e-mail) can have security gaps. Therefore, complete protection of the data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the responsible body

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:
PWM Technology Group GmbH
Birkenstr. 1
D-88285 Bodnegg-Rotheidlen
Phone: +49 (0) 7520 96649-0
E-Mail: info@pwm-group.de

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

Storage duration

Unless a more specific storage period has been specified within this data protection declaration, your data will remain with us until the purpose for the data processing no longer applies. If you assert a justified request for deletion or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your data (e.g., retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, the data will be deleted after these reasons no longer apply.

Data protection officer required by law

We have appointed a data protection officer for our company.

Merkel Group of Companies Merkel Quality Management GmbH
Dr. Claudia Noortwijck
Jahnstraße 102
D-88214 Ravensburg

Phone: +49 (0) 751 36 05 – 300
E-Mail: Noortwijck@merkel-gruppe.de

Note on data transfer to the USA and other third countries

We use tools from companies based in the USA or other third countries that are not secure under data protection law. When these tools are active, your data may be transferred to and processed in these third countries. We would like to point out that no level of data protection comparable to that in the EU can be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obligated to release personal data to security authorities without you, the data subject, to take legal action against this. Therefore, it cannot be ruled out that US authorities (e.g. intelligence agencies) process, evaluate, and permanently store your data located on US servers for monitoring purposes. We do not influence these processing activities.

Revocation of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are only possible with your express consent. You can revoke an already given consent at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out until the revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in exceptional cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF THE DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 PARA 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR DATA AT ANY TIME ON GROUNDS RELATING TO YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS DATA PROTECTION DECLARATION. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING IS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, EXERCISE, OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21 PARA 1 GDPR).

IF YOUR DATA IS PROCESSED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT AT ANY TIME TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA CONCERNING YOU FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH MARKETING; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING INSOFAR AS IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION ACCORDING TO ART. 21 PARA 2 GDPR).

Right of appeal to the competent supervisory authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects shall have a right of appeal to a supervisory authority, particularly in the Member State of their habitual residence, workplace, or the place of the alleged breach. The right of appeal is without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to data portability

You have the right to have data that we process automatically based on your consent or in fulfilling a contract handed over to you or a third party in a standard, machine-readable format. If you request the direct transfer of the data to another controller, this will only be done insofar as it is technically feasible.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or requests that you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser address bar changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser bar.

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

Information, deletion and correction

Within the framework of the applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient and the purpose of data processing and, if applicable, a right to correction or deletion of this data. You can contact us at any time concerning this and other questions on the subject of personal data.

Right to restriction of processing
You have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your data. For this purpose, you can contact us at any time. The right to restrict processing exists in the following cases:
  • If you dispute the accuracy of your data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the review, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your data. If the processing of your data happened/is happening unlawfully, you may request the restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
  • If we no longer need your data, but you need it to exercise, defend or enforce legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your data instead of deletion.
  • If you have objected according to Art. 21 (1) DSGVO, balancing your and our interests must be carried out. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to demand the restriction of the processing of your data.

Suppose you have restricted the processing of your data. In that case, this data may – apart from being stored – only be processed with your consent or for the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or reasons of significant public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies

Our Internet pages use so-called “cookies.” Cookies are small text files and do not harm your terminal device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your terminal device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after the end of your visit. Permanent cookies remain stored on your terminal device until you delete them yourself or until your web browser automatically deletes them.

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

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary, as certain website functions would not work without them (e.g., the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies are used to evaluate user behavior or display advertising.

Cookies that are necessary to carry out the electronic communication process (essential cookies) or to provide certain functions you have requested (functional cookies, e.g., for the shopping cart function) or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies to measure the web audience) are stored based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in keeping cookies for the technically error-free and optimized service provision. I consent to the storage of cookies has been requested. The storage of the cookies in question is based exclusively on this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR); permission can be revoked at any time.

You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and only allow cookies in individual cases, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. However, when cookies are disabled, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Suppose cookies are used by third-party companies or for analysis purposes. In that case, we will inform you about this separately within the framework of this data protection declaration and, if necessary, request your consent.

Cookie consent with Borlabs cookie

Our website uses the cookie consent technology of Borlabs Cookie to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies in your browser and document this following data protection law. The provider of this technology is Borlabs – Benjamin A. Bornschein, Rübenkamp 32, 22305 Hamburg (hereinafter Borlabs).

When you enter our website, a Borlabs cookie is stored in your browser, which stores the consents you have given or revoked. This data is not shared with the provider of Borlabs Cookie.

The collected data will be stored until you request us to delete it or delete the Borlabs cookie yourself or until the purpose for storing the data no longer applies. Mandatory statutory retention periods remain unaffected. Details on the data processing of Borlabs Cookie can be found at https://de.borlabs.io/kb/welche-daten-speichert-borlabs-cookie/.

The use of Borlabs cookie consent technology is done to obtain the legally required consent for the use of cookies. The legal basis for this is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR.

Cookies through language selection using Polylang

For the multilingualism of our website, we use the program Polylang. Polylang is a product of WP SYNTEX, 28, rue Jean Sebastien Bach, 38090 Villefontaine, France. Cookies from Polylang are set exclusively to recognize and record the language used or selected by the user. These cookies remain stored for one year and are then deleted. The cookie only stores your language choice. A transfer of your data to the manufacturer of the plugin does not take place.
For more information on data privacy compliance, click here https://polylang.pro/doc/is-polylang-compatible-with-the-eu-cookie-law/

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

  • Browser type and version
  • operating system used
  • Referrer URL
  • The hostname of the accessing computer
  • Time of the server request
  • IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

The collection of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimization of its website – for this purpose, the server log files must be recorded.

Request by e-mail, phone, or fax

If you contact us by e-mail, telephone, or fax, your inquiry, including all resulting personal data (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us to process your request. We do not share this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR provided that your request is related to the performance of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of the requests addressed to us (Art. 6 (1) f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 (1) a GDPR) if this has been requested.

The data you send to us via contact requests will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to store it, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after we have completed processing your request). Mandatory statutory provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

5. Analysis tools and advertising

Google Analytics

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

Google Analytics allows the website operator to analyze the behavior of website visitors. In this context, the website operator receives various usage data, such as page impressions, duration of visit, operating systems used and origin of the user. Google may summarize this data in a profile assigned to the respective user or their end device.

Furthermore, we may use Google Analytics to record your mouse and scroll movements and clicks, among other things. Further, Google Analytics uses various modeling approaches to augment the data sets it collects and employs machine learning technologies in its data analysis.

Google Analytics uses technologies that enable the user’s recognition to analyze user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Google about using this website is usually transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

The use of this analysis tool is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize its web offering and advertising. If a corresponding consent was requested (e.g., permission to store cookies), the processing is based exclusively on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR; the consent can be revoked at any time.

Data transfer to the USA is based on the standard contractual clauses of the EU Commission. Details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

IP anonymization

We have activated the IP anonymization function on this website. As a result, your IP address is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the agreement on the European Economic Area before being transmitted to the USA. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address sent to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website, compile reports on website activity, and provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics is not merged with other Google data.

Browser plugin

You can prevent the collection and processing of your data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

For more information on how Google Analytics handles user data, please see Google’s privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Job processing

We have concluded an order processing agreement with Google and fully implement the strict requirements of the German data protection authorities when using Google Analytics.

Storage duration

Data stored by Google at user and event-level linked to cookies, user identifiers (e.g., User ID), or advertising IDs (e.g., DoubleClick cookies, Android advertising ID) is anonymized or deleted after 14 months. Details can be found under the following link: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7667196?hl=de .

6. Newsletter

Newsletter data

Suppose you would like to receive the newsletter offered on the website. In that case, we require an e-mail address from you and information that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter. Further data is not collected or only voluntarily. We use this data exclusively for sending the requested information and do not pass it on to third parties.

The data processing entered in the newsletter registration form is based exclusively on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke your consent to the storage of the data, the e-mail address and their use for sending the newsletter at any time, for example, via the “unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

The newsletter service provider or we will store the data you provide to receive the newsletter until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe from the newsletter or after the purpose is no longer served. We reserve the right to delete or block e-mail addresses from our newsletter distribution list at our discretion within the scope of our legitimate interest according to Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR.

After you have unsubscribed from the newsletter distribution list, your e-mail address may be stored by the newsletter service provider or us on a blacklist to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist will only be used for this purpose and will not be merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR). The storage in the blacklist is not limited in time. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interests.

Klick-Tipp

This website uses Klick-Tipp for sending newsletters. The provider is KLICK-TIPP LIMITED, 15 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherd’s Bush Road, London W6 7NJ, United Kingdom.

Klick-Tipp is a service that can be used, among other things, to organize and analyze the sending of newsletters. The data you enter to receive the newsletter will be stored on Klick-Tipp’s servers.

Data analysis through Klick-Tipp

When we send newsletters using Klick-Tipp, we can determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links, if any, have been clicked.

Klick-Tipp also allows us to subdivide newsletter recipients based on different categories (so-called tagging). Newsletter recipients can be subdivided, for example, by gender, personal preferences (e.g., vegetarian or non-vegetarian), or customer relationship (e.g., customer or potential customer). In this way, newsletters can be better adapted to the respective target groups. For more information, please contact: https://www.klick-tipp.com and https://www.klick-tipp.com/handbuch.

If you do not want any analysis by Klick-Tipp, you must therefore unsubscribe from the newsletter. For this purpose, we provide a corresponding link in every newsletter message.

Legal basis

The data processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR). You can revoke this consent at any time. The legality of the data processing operations already carried out remains unaffected by the revocation.

Storage duration

The newsletter service provider or we will store the data you provide to receive the newsletter until you unsubscribe from the newsletter and will be deleted from the newsletter distribution list after you unsubscribe from the newsletter. Data that we have stored for other purposes remains unaffected by this.

After you have unsubscribed from the newsletter distribution list, your e-mail address may be stored by the newsletter service provider or us on a blacklist to prevent future mailings. The data from the blacklist will only be used for this purpose and will not be merged with other data. This serves both your interest and our interest in complying with legal requirements when sending newsletters (legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR). The storage in the blacklist is not limited in time. You can object to the storage if your interests outweigh our legitimate interests.

For more details, please see Klick-Tipp’s privacy policy at: https://www.klick-tipp.com/datenschutzerklaerung.

Conclusion of a contract for order processing

We have concluded an order processing agreement with Klick-Tipp, in which we oblige Klick-Tipp to protect our customers’ data and not pass it on to third parties.

7. Plugins und Tools

Google Maps

This website uses the mapping service Google Maps. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

To enable the use of the Google Maps features, your IP address must be stored. As a rule, this information is transferred to one of Google’s servers in the United States, where it is archived. The operator of this website has no control over the data transfer. In case Google Maps has been activated, Google has the option to use Google web fonts for the purpose of the uniform depiction of fonts. When you access Google Maps, your browser will load the required web fonts into your browser cache, to correctly display text and fonts.
We use Google Maps to present our online content in an appealing manner and to make the locations disclosed on our website easy to find. This constitutes a legitimate interest as defined in Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. If appropriate consent has been obtained, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar the consent includes the storage of cookies or the access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. This consent can be revoked at any time. Data transmission to the US is based on the Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC) of the European Commission. Details can be found here: https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/ and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/gdprcontrollerterms/sccs/.

For more information on the handling of user data, please review Google’s Data Privacy Declaration under: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en.

Google reCAPTCHA

We use “Google reCAPTCHA” (hereinafter referred to as “reCAPTCHA”) on this website. The provider is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

The purpose of reCAPTCHA is to determine whether data entered on this website (e.g., information entered into a contact form) is being provided by a human user or by an automated program. To determine this, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitors based on a variety of parameters. This analysis is triggered automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the site. For this analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates a variety of data (e.g., IP address, time the website visitor spent on the site or cursor movements initiated by the user). The data tracked during such analyses are forwarded to Google. reCAPTCHA analyses run entirely in the background. Website visitors are not alerted that an analysis is underway. Data are stored and analyzed on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the protection of the operator’s websites against abusive automated spying and against SPAM. If appropriate consent has been obtained, the processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar the consent includes the storage of cookies or the access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. This consent can be revoked at any time.

For more information about Google reCAPTCHA please refer to the Google Data Privacy Declaration and Terms Of Use under the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en and https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en.

Status of the privacy policy

Status of the privacy policy: 2022/04/25

You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Privacy policy for our social media appearances

You can read our privacy policy for our social media appearances by following this link: https://www.pwm-group.de/en/privacy-policy-social-media-appearances/