Privacy policy
1. An overview of data protection
General
The following gives a simple overview of what happens to your personal information when you visit our website. Personal information is any data with which you could be personally identified. Detailed information on the subject of data protection can be found in our privacy policy found below.
Data collection on our website
Who is responsible for the data collection on this website?
The data collected on this website are processed by the website operator. The operator’s contact details can be found in the website’s required legal notice.
How do we collect your data?
Some data are collected when you provide it to us. This could, for example, be data you enter on a contact form. Other data are collected automatically by our IT systems when you visit the website. These data are primarily technical data such as the browser and operating system you are using or when you accessed the page. These data are collected automatically as soon as you enter our website.
What do we use your data for?
Part of the data is collected to ensure the proper functioning of the website. Other data can be used to analyze how visitors use the site.
What rights do you have regarding your data?
You always have the right to request information about your stored data, its origin, its recipients, and the purpose of its collection at no charge. You also have the right to request that it be corrected, blocked, or deleted. You can contact us at any time using the address given in the legal notice if you have further questions about the issue of privacy and data protection. You may also, of course, file a complaint with the competent regulatory authorities.
Analytics and third-party tools
When visiting our website, statistical analyses may be made of your surfing behavior. This happens primarily using cookies and analytics. The analysis of your surfing behavior is usually anonymous, i.e. we will not be able to identify you from this data. You can object to this analysis or prevent it by not using certain tools. Detailed information can be found in the following privacy policy. You can object to this analysis. We will inform you below about how to exercise your options in this regard.
2. General information and mandatory information
Data protection
The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data as confidential and in accordance with the statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy. If you use this website, various pieces of personal data will be collected. Personal information is any data with which you could be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what information we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens. Please note that data transmitted via the internet (e.g. via email communication) may be subject to security breaches. Complete protection of your data from third-party access is not possible.
Notice concerning the party responsible for this website
The party responsible for processing data on this website is:
VÖLKEL GmbH
Morsbachtalstraße 20
42855 Remscheid
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 21 91 – 49 01 12
E-Mail: info@voelkel.com
The responsible party is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (names, email addresses, etc.).
SSL or TLS encryption
This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and for the protection of the transmission of confidential content, such as the inquiries you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection in your browser’s address line when it changes from “http://” to “https://” and the lock icon is displayed in your browser’s address bar. If SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transfer to us cannot be read by third parties.
3. Data collection on our website
Cookies
Some of our web pages use cookies. Cookies do not harm your computer and do not contain any viruses. Cookies help make our website more user-friendly, efficient, and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser. Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies.” They are automatically deleted after your visit. Other cookies remain in your device’s memory until you delete them. These cookies make it possible to recognize your browser when you next visit the site. You can configure your browser to inform you about the use of cookies so that you can decide on a case-by-case basis whether to accept or reject a cookie. Alternatively, your browser can be configured to automatically accept cookies under certain conditions or to always reject them, or to automatically delete cookies when closing your browser. Disabling cookies may limit the functionality of this website. Cookies which are necessary to allow electronic communications or to provide certain functions you wish to use (such as the shopping cart) are stored pursuant to Art. 6 paragraph 1, letter f of DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the storage of cookies to ensure an optimized service provided free of technical errors. If other cookies (such as those used to analyze your surfing behavior) are also stored, they will be treated separately in this privacy policy.
Server log files
The website provider automatically collects and stores information that your browser automatically transmits to us in “server log files”. These are:
Browser type and browser version
Operating system used
Referrer URL
Host name of the accessing computer
Time of the server request
IP address
These data will not be combined with data from other sources. The basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) (f) DSGVO, which allows the processing of data to fulfill a contract or for measures preliminary to a contract.
Contact form
Should you send us questions via the contact form, we will collect the data entered on the form, including the contact details you provide, to answer your question and any follow-up questions. We do not share this information without your permission. We will, therefore, process any data you enter onto the contact form only with your consent per Art. 6 (1)(a) DSGVO. You may revoke your consent at any time. An informal email making this request is sufficient. The data processed before we receive your request may still be legally processed. We will retain the data you provide on the contact form until you request its deletion, revoke your consent for its storage, or the purpose for its storage no longer pertains (e.g. after fulfilling your request). Any mandatory statutory provisions, especially those regarding mandatory data retention periods, remain unaffected by this provision.
4. Analytics and advertising
Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service. It is operated by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Google Analytics uses so-called “cookies”. These are text files that are stored on your computer and that allow an analysis of the use of the website by you. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Google Analytics cookies are stored based on Art. 6 (1) (f) DSGVO. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both its website and its advertising.
IP anonymization
We have activated the IP anonymization feature on this website. Your IP address will be shortened by Google within the European Union or other parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area prior to transmission to the United States. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address sent to a Google server in the US and shortened there. Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website to evaluate your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services regarding website activity and Internet usage for the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with any other data held by Google.
Browser Plugin
You can prevent these cookies being stored by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser. However, we wish to point out that doing so may mean you will not be able to enjoy the full functionality of this website. You can also prevent the data generated by cookies about your use of the website (incl. your IP address) from being passed to Google, and the processing of these data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en
Objecting to the collection of data
You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics by clicking on the following link. An opt-out cookie will be set to prevent your data from being collected on future visits to this site: Disable Google Analytics. For more information about how Google Analytics handles user data, see Google’s privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=en
LinkedIn Insight Tag
This website uses LinkedIn Insight Tag, a tracking and analytics tool, provided by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Irland. The LinkedIn Insight Tag enables the collection of data regarding members’ visits to our website, including the URL, referrer, IP address, device and browser characteristics, timestamp, and page views. This data is encrypted, then de-identified within seven days, and the de-identified data is deleted within 90 days. LinkedIn does not share the personal data with the website owner, it only provides aggregated reports about the website audience and ad performance. LinkedIn also provides retargeting for website visitors, enabling the website owner to show personalized ads off its website by using this data, but without identifying the member. The purpose of the data collection is to analyze visits to our website and campaign results to provide you with interesting information. The legal basis for the processing of personal data is Art. 6 paragraph 1, letter f of DSGVO. LinkedIn members can control the use of their personal data for advertising purposes through their account settings.
For more information on privacy on LinkedIn: LinkedIn privacy policy.
Facebook Pixel
Our website uses the Facebook pixel provided by the social network Facebook, a company operated by Facebook Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA, or if you live in the EU, by Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland (“Facebook”). Facebook is certified under the EU-US Privacy Shield and thus offers sufficient guarantees that it adheres to European data protection laws. Facebook processes data in line with its own guidelines on data usage. You’ll find relevant general information on the display of Facebook ads in Facebook’s data protection policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php. You’ll find special information and details about the Facebook pixel and the way it works in Facebook’s Help Centre: https://www.facebook.com/business/help/742478679120153.
a) Purpose of data processing
We use the Facebook pixel for the purposes of analysis, optimisation and economical operation of our website. Using the Facebook pixel, Facebook is able, firstly, to identify visitors to our website as belonging to target groups in order to display adverts (“Facebook ads”). We use the Facebook pixel so that we only show the Facebook ads placed by us to Facebook users who have shown an interest in our online presence or who have shown certain characteristics (e.g. interest in certain topics or products that are defined on the basis of websites visited) which we communicate to Facebook (“custom audiences”). With the aid of the Facebook pixel, we aim to ensure that our Facebook ads are relevant to the potential interests of each user and are not perceived as an irritation. Furthermore, using the Facebook pixel, we can track the effectiveness of the Facebook ads for statistical and market research purposes because we can see whether users were forwarded to our website after clicking on a Facebook ad (“conversion”).
b) Legal basis for data processing
The legal basis for the processing of personal data using the Facebook pixel is Art. 6 paragraph 1, letter f of DSGVO, that is a legitimate interest on our part. More specifically, our legitimate interest rests in this regard on the analysis, optimisation and economical operation of our website and online presence.
c) Objection and deletion options
You can opt out of having your data gathered and used by the Facebook pixel for the purpose of displaying Facebook ads. In order to choose what kinds of adverts you see on Facebook, you can access the settings page on Facebook and follow the instructions there regarding the settings options for usage-based advertising: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads. Your settings will be changed across all platforms, so they will apply to all your devices, e.g. desktop computer and mobile devices.
5. Plugins and tools
YouTube
Our website uses plugins from YouTube, which is operated by Google. The operator of the pages is YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA. If you visit one of our pages featuring a YouTube plugin, a connection to the YouTube servers is established. Here the YouTube server is informed about which of our pages you have visited. If you’re logged in to your YouTube account, YouTube allows you to associate your browsing behavior directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account. YouTube is used to help make our website appealing. This constitutes a justified interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (f) DSGVO. Further information about handling user data, can be found in the data protection declaration of YouTube under: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy
Google Maps
This site uses the Google Maps map service via an API. It is operated by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. To use Google Maps, it is necessary to save your IP address. This information is generally transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The provider of this site has no influence on this data transfer. The use of Google Maps is in the interest of making our website appealing and to facilitate the location of places specified by us on the website. This constitutes a justified interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (f) DSGVO. Further information about handling user data, can be found in the data protection declaration of Google at: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/
LinkedIn
Plugins by the social network LinkedIn, operated by the LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (hereinafter “LinkedIn”), are integrated into our website. You’ll recognise the LinkedIn plugins from the LinkedIn logo on our webpages. When you visit a webpage that contains this logo, a direct connection is established via the plugin between your browser and the LinkedIn server if you have previously enabled the data transfer with a single click. LinkedIn thereby receives the information that you, with your IP address, have visited our website. If you click the LinkedIn logo while you are logged in to your LinkedIn account, you can provide links to our website content on your LinkedIn profile. Doing so allows LinkedIn to link your visit to our website to your user account. We would like to point out that we as the provider of the webpages do not receive any information about the content of the data transmitted or about how it is used by LinkedIn.
a) Purpose of the data processing
The LinkedIn plugin is used for the purpose of making it possible to share our content and information directly via the LinkedIn network, and is thereby in our marketing and advertising interests. You’ll find details about data collection (purpose, extent, further processing, use) and about your rights and settings options in LinkedIn’s privacy policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy
b) Legal basis for the data processing
The legal basis for the processing of personal data is Art. 6 paragraph 1, letter f of DSGVO, i.e. a legitimate interest on our part. Our legitimate interest here rests on the above-named purposes.
c) Duration of storage
As a user, you can decide yourself about the execution of the Java Script code necessary for the tool via your browser settings. By changing the settings in your internet browser you can deactivate or limit the execution of Java Script, and thereby also prevent data from being stored. Note: If the execution of Java Script is deactivated, you may no longer be able to use all the functions of the website in their entirety.
d) Objection and removal options
If you have a LinkedIn account and do not want LinkedIn to gather data about you via our website and link that data to your LinkedIn account data, you must log out of LinkedIn before you visit our website. You can prevent the execution of the Java Script code necessary for the tool by changing the relevant settings on your browser software.
Facebook
Our website contains the social plugin of the social network Facebook, operated by Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA (hereinafter: Facebook). You’ll recognise this plugin on our website by the Facebook logo. When you visit a page on our website that features this logo, your browser establishes a direct connection with the Facebook servers in the USA, which in turn allows the content of the plugin to be transmitted to your browser and to be integrated into the website by it. As a result, the information that you have visited our website is passed on to Facebook.
If, when you visit our website, you are logged in to your personal Facebook account, Facebook can link the website visit to that account. When you interact with plugins, e.g. if you click on the “Logo” button, that information is transmitted directly to Facebook and stored there. If you would like to prevent this kind of data transmission, you must log out of your Facebook account before you visit our website. In that case, however, certain data, e.g. your IP address, the time of the click, the browser used, etc. is still transmitted to Facebook. Logging out only prevents the data from being linked to a particular Facebook account.
a) Purpose of the data processing
Facebook plugins are used for the purpose of providing an opportunity to share our content and information directly, and is thereby in our marketing and advertising interests. Please see Facebook’s privacy notice for information about the purpose and extent of data collection by Facebook, about the way they further process and use your data, and about your rights and settings options in this regard in your Facebook account to protect your privacy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation
b) Legal basis for the data processing
The legal basis for the processing of personal data is Art. 6 paragraph 1, letter f of DSGVO, i.e. a legitimate interest on our part. Our legitimate interest here rests on the above-named purposes.
c) Duration of storage
As a user, you can decide yourself about the execution of the Java Script code necessary for the tool via your browser settings. By changing the settings in your internet browser you can deactivate or limit the execution of Java Script. Note: If the execution of Java Script is deactivated, you may no longer be able to use all the functions of the website in their entirety.
d) Objection and removal options
If you do not want Facebook to be able to link your visit to our website to your Facebook account, please log out of your Facebook user account and block the execution of script content by Facebook in your browser.