Privacy Policy

1. Privacy at a Glance

General Information

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

Data Collection on This Website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the section “Information on the Responsible Party” in this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

Your data is collected in part by you providing it to us. This may include, for example, data that you enter into a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or with your consent when you visit the website through our IT systems. This primarily includes technical data (e.g., internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). 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.

Analysis Tools and Third-Party Tools

When you visit this website, your browsing behavior may be statistically analyzed. This is primarily done using analysis programs. Detailed information about these analysis programs can be found in the following privacy policy.

2. Hosting

Strato

We host our website with Strato. The provider is Strato AG, Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7, 10249 Berlin (hereinafter “Strato”). When you visit our website, Strato collects various log files including your IP addresses. Further information can be found in Strato’s privacy policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz/. The use of Strato is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation of our website. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Data Processing

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) with the above-mentioned provider. This is a contract required by data protection law that ensures they process the personal data of our website visitors only according to our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General Information and Mandatory Information

Privacy Policy

The operators of this website take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with statutory data protection regulations and this privacy policy. When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data that can be used to personally identify you. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done. We would like to point out that data transmission over the internet (e.g., when communicating by email) may have security vulnerabilities. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Information on the Responsible Party

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:

Dieter Bickert
Emil-Gerk-Straße 4
36137 Großenlüder-Müs
Germany

Phone: +49 (0) 6648 916540
Email: info@bkls.de

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

Storage Duration

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

General Information on the Legal Basis for Data Processing on This Website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a GDPR, if special categories of data according to Art. 9 para. 1 GDPR are processed. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing is also carried out on the basis of Art. 49 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information in your end device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing is additionally carried out on the basis of § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required for contract fulfillment or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR. Data processing may also be carried out on the basis of our legitimate interest according to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Information about the relevant legal basis in each individual case is provided in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

Information on Data Transfer to the USA and Other Third Countries

We use, among other things, 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 personal data may be transferred to these third countries and processed there. We would like to point out that no data protection level comparable to that of the EU can be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obliged to disclose personal data to security authorities without you as the data subject being able to take legal action against this. It cannot therefore be ruled out that US authorities (e.g., intelligence services) may process, evaluate, and permanently store your data located on US servers for monitoring purposes. We have no influence over these processing activities.

Revocation of Your Consent to Data Processing

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

Right to Object to Data Collection in Special Cases and to Direct Marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

IF DATA PROCESSING IS BASED ON ART. 6 PARA. 1 LIT. E OR F GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR REASONS ARISING FROM 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 PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS, AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES THE ASSERTION, EXERCISE, OR DEFENSE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21 PARA. 1 GDPR). IF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, 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 RELATED TO SUCH DIRECT MARKETING. IF YOU OBJECT, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES (OBJECTION UNDER ART. 21 PARA. 2 GDPR).

Right to Lodge a Complaint with the Competent Supervisory Authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the member state of their habitual residence, their place of work, or the place of the alleged violation. The right to lodge a complaint exists without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to Data Portability

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

SSL or TLS Encryption

This site uses SSL or TLS encryption for security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or inquiries that you send to us as the site operator. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the address line of the browser changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser line. When 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 recipients, 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 regarding 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 personal data. You can contact us at any time for this purpose. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored with 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 personal data.
If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request the restriction of data processing instead of deletion.
If we no longer need your personal data, but you need it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of deletion.
If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 para. 1 GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it has not yet been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request the restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may—apart from its storage—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 for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a member state.

4. Data Collection on This Website

Cookies

Our website uses so-called “cookies.” Cookies are small text files and do not cause any damage to your end device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (permanent cookies) on your end device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit ends. Permanent cookies remain stored on your end device until you delete them yourself or automatic deletion is performed by your web browser. In some cases, cookies from third-party companies may also be stored on your end 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. Numerous 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 analyze user behavior or display advertising. Cookies that are required to carry out the electronic communication process, to provide certain functions you have requested (e.g., for the shopping cart function), or to optimize the website (e.g., cookies for measuring web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR, unless another legal basis is specified. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimized provision of its services. If consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG); consent 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 on a case-by-case basis, exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited. Insofar as cookies are used by third-party companies or for analysis purposes, we will inform you of this separately within the framework of this privacy policy and, if applicable, request consent.

Consent with Borlabs Cookie

Our website uses the consent technology from Borlabs Cookie to obtain your consent to the storage of certain cookies in your browser or to the use of certain technologies and to document this in a data protection-compliant manner. 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, in which the consents you have given or the revocation of these consents are stored. This data is not passed on to the provider of Borlabs Cookie.

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

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

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 browser version
Operating system used
Referrer URL
Hostname of the accessing computer
Time of 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, server log files must be collected.

Contact Form

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your information from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not pass on this data without your consent. The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time. The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

Inquiry by Email, Telephone, or Fax

If you contact us by email, telephone, or fax, your inquiry including all resulting personal data (name, inquiry) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We do not pass on this data without your consent. The processing of this data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR, if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) if this has been requested; consent can be revoked at any time. The data you send to us via contact inquiries will remain with us until you request us to delete it, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

5. Analysis Tools and Advertising

Google Analytics

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

Google Analytics enables the website operator to analyze the behavior of website visitors. The website operator receives various usage data, such as page views, dwell time, operating systems used, and the origin of the user. This data is summarized in a user ID and assigned to the respective end device of the website visitor.

Furthermore, with Google Analytics we can record your mouse and scroll movements and clicks, among other things. Google Analytics also uses various modeling approaches to supplement the collected data sets and employs machine learning technologies in data analysis.

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

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. 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 will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area before transmission to the USA. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted 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, to compile reports on website activity, and to provide other services related to website usage and internet usage to the website operator. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other data from Google.

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.

More information on how Google Analytics handles user data can be found in Google’s privacy policy: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de.

Demographic Features in Google Analytics

This website uses the “demographic features” function of Google Analytics to display appropriate advertisements to website visitors within the Google advertising network. This allows reports to be created that contain statements about the age, gender, and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising from Google and visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics as described in the section “Objection to Data Collection.”

Data Processing

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

Google Ads

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

Google Ads enables us to display advertisements in the Google search engine or on third-party websites when the user enters certain search terms on Google (keyword targeting). Furthermore, targeted advertisements can be displayed based on user data available at Google (e.g., location data and interests) (audience targeting). As a website operator, we can quantitatively evaluate this data by, for example, analyzing which search terms led to the display of our advertisements and how many ads led to corresponding clicks.

The use of this service is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG. 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://policies.google.com/privacy/frameworks and https://privacy.google.com/businesses/controllerterms/mccs/.

6. Plugins and Tools

YouTube with Enhanced Privacy Protection

This website embeds videos from YouTube. The operator of the pages is Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

We use YouTube in enhanced privacy mode. According to YouTube, this mode means that YouTube does not store any information about visitors to this website before they watch the video. However, the sharing of data with YouTube partners is not necessarily excluded by the enhanced privacy mode. For example, YouTube—regardless of whether you watch a video—establishes a connection to the Google DoubleClick network.

As soon as you start a YouTube video on this website, a connection to YouTube’s servers is established. This informs the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited. If you are logged into your YouTube account, you enable YouTube to assign your browsing behavior directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

Furthermore, after starting a video, YouTube may store various cookies on your end device or use comparable recognition technologies (e.g., device fingerprinting). In this way, YouTube can obtain information about visitors to this website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness, and prevent fraud attempts.

If applicable, further data processing operations may be triggered after starting a YouTube video, over which we have no influence.

The use of YouTube is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information on privacy at YouTube can be found in their privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

Google Web Fonts (Local Hosting)

This site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection to Google servers takes place.

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

Google reCAPTCHA

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

reCAPTCHA is intended to verify whether data entry on this website (e.g., in a contact form) is performed by a human or by an automated program. For this purpose, reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of the website visitor based on various characteristics. This analysis begins automatically as soon as the website visitor enters the website. For the analysis, reCAPTCHA evaluates various information (e.g., IP address, dwell time of the website visitor on the website, or mouse movements made by the user). The data collected during the analysis is forwarded to Google.

The reCAPTCHA analyses run completely in the background. Website visitors are not informed that an analysis is taking place.

The storage and analysis of data is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in protecting its web offerings from abusive automated spying and SPAM. If appropriate consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR and § 25 para. 1 TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information in the user’s end device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Further information on Google reCAPTCHA can be found in Google’s privacy policy and Google’s terms of use at the following links: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de and https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=de.

7. Our Own Services

Handling of Applicant Data

We offer you the opportunity to apply to us (e.g., by email, by post, or via an online application form). In the following, we inform you about the scope, purpose, and use of your personal data collected as part of the application process. We assure you that the collection, processing, and use of your data is carried out in accordance with applicable data protection law and all other statutory provisions and that your data is treated in strict confidence.

Scope and Purpose of Data Collection

If you submit an application to us, we process your associated personal data (e.g., contact and communication data, application documents, notes from application interviews, etc.) to the extent necessary to decide on the establishment of an employment relationship. The legal basis for this is § 26 BDSG under German law (initiation of an employment relationship), Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (general contract initiation), and—if you have given consent—Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time. Your personal data will only be passed on within our company to persons involved in processing your application. If the application is successful, the data you submitted will be stored in our data processing systems on the basis of § 26 BDSG and Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the purpose of implementing the employment relationship.

Data Retention Period

If we cannot make you a job offer, you decline a job offer, or you withdraw your application, we reserve the right to retain the data you transmitted on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) for up to 6 months from the end of the application process (rejection or withdrawal of the application). The data will then be deleted and the physical application documents destroyed. The retention serves in particular for evidentiary purposes in the event of a legal dispute. If it is evident that the data will be required after the 6-month period expires (e.g., due to an impending or pending legal dispute), deletion will only take place when the purpose for further retention no longer applies. Longer retention may also take place if you have given appropriate consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR) or if statutory retention obligations prevent deletion.