General and mandatory information

– Data protection

The operators of these pages 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 identify you personally. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this happens.

We point out that data transmission over the Internet (e.g., when communicating by email) can have security gaps. Complete protection of data from access by third parties is not possible.

– Information on the responsible party

The responsible party for data processing on this website is:

MetalUnites UG,
Filkuhlweg 8, 26725 Emden.
Email: mail@metalunites.de

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

– Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period is 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 your consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible reasons for storing your personal data (e.g., retention periods under tax or commercial law); in the latter case, deletion will occur once these reasons no longer apply.

– General information on the legal basis for data processing on this website

If you have consented to data processing, we will process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR or Art. 9 (2) (a) GDPR if special categories of data are processed pursuant to Art. 9 (1) GDPR. In the case of express consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing will also be based on Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or access to information on your device (e.g., via device fingerprinting), data processing will also be based on Section 25 (1) TTDSG. Your consent can be revoked at any time. If your data is required to fulfill a contract or to carry out pre-contractual measures, we will process your data on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data if it is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR. Data processing may also be based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The relevant legal bases in each individual case are explained in the following paragraphs of this privacy policy.

– Notice 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 do not have secure data protection laws. If these tools are active, your personal data may be transferred to these third countries and processed there. We would like to point out that a level of data protection comparable to that in the EU cannot be guaranteed in these countries. For example, US companies are obligated to disclose personal data to security authorities without you, as the data subject, being able to take legal action. It cannot therefore be ruled out that US authorities (e.g., intelligence agencies) may process, evaluate, and permanently store your data stored on US servers for surveillance 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 express consent. You can revoke your consent at any time. The legality of the data processing carried out up to the time of revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

– Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct marketing (Article 21 GDPR)

If data processing is based on Article 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of your personal data for reasons related 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 privacy policy. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN PROVE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING THAT OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES TO ASSERT, EXERCISE, OR DEFEND LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 21 (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 such marketing purposes; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is associated with such direct marketing. If you object, your personal data will subsequently no longer be used for direct marketing purposes (objection pursuant to Art. 21 (2) GDPR).

– Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of violations of the GDPR, those affected have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged violation. This right of complaint 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 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 the data to another controller, this will only be done if technically feasible.

– 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, this website uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognize an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser’s address line 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 scope of applicable legal provisions, you have the right at any time to obtain free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipient, and the purpose of data processing, as well as the right to have this data corrected or deleted. You can contact us at any time with any questions about this or other issues relating to personal data.

– Right to Restriction of Processing

You have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted. You can contact us at any time to do so. The right to restriction of processing applies in the following cases:

If you dispute the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we generally need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.

If the processing of your personal data was/is unlawful, you can request that its processing be restricted instead of erased.

If we no longer need your personal data, but you require it to exercise, defend, or assert legal claims, you have the right to request that its processing be restricted instead of erased.

If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR, a balance must be struck between your interests and ours. As long as it is not yet clear whose interests prevail, you have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may – with the exception of its storage – only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person, or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

Data Collection on This Website

– Server Log Files

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

Browser type and version

Operating system used

Referrer URL

Hostname of the accessing computer

Time of the server request

IP address

This data will not be merged with other data sources.

This data is collected on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (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 collected.

– Contact Forms

If you send us inquiries via the contact form, your details from the inquiry form, including the contact details you provided there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing your inquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We will not share this data without your consent.

This data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR, provided your inquiry is related to the fulfillment 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 inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR), if requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

The data you enter in the contact form will remain with us until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after your inquiry has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular retention periods – remain unaffected.

– Inquiry by email, telephone

If you contact us by email, telephone, or fax, your inquiry, including all personal data resulting from it (name, inquiry), will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of processing your request. We will not disclose this data without your consent.

This data will be processed on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR if your inquiry is related to the fulfillment of a contract or is necessary to carry out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, the processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of inquiries addressed to us (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR), if requested; consent can be revoked at any time.

The data you send to us via contact inquiries will remain with us until you request deletion, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for storing the data no longer applies (e.g., after your request has been processed). Mandatory legal provisions – in particular statutory retention periods – remain unaffected.

Analysis Tools and Advertising

– Plausible Analytics

Our website uses the privacy-friendly web analytics service Plausible Analytics, operated by Plausible Insights OÜ, Västriku tn 2, 50403, Tartu, Estonia.

Plausible helps us to understand how visitors use our website – completely without cookies and without collecting personal data. No IP addresses are stored, no user profiles are created and no data is passed on to third parties.

All data collected is completely anonymized and is processed exclusively on servers in the EU. Processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest in improving our online offering).

You can find further information at: https://plausible.io/data-policy

– Statify

This website uses the open source web analysis service Statify. Statify uses technologies that enable cross-page user recognition to analyze user behavior (e.g., cookies or device fingerprinting). The information collected by Matomo about the use of this website is stored on our server. The IP address is anonymized before storage.

With the help of Statify, we are able to collect and analyze data about the use of our website by website visitors. This allows us to find out, among other things, when which page views were made and from which region they originate. We also record various log files (e.g., IP address, referrer, browsers used, and operating systems) and can measure whether our website visitors perform certain actions (e.g., clicks, purchases, etc.).

This analysis tool is used on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both its website and its advertising. If consent has been requested, processing will be carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and Section 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

– IP anonymization

We use IP anonymization for our analysis with Matomo. This means your IP address is shortened before analysis so that it can no longer be clearly assigned to you.

– Newsletter distribution with Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)

We use the service Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) to send our newsletter. The provider is Sendinblue GmbH, Köpenicker Straße 126, 10179 Berlin, Germany.

Brevo is a service that, among other things, can be used to organize and analyze the distribution of newsletters. The data you enter for the purpose of subscribing to the newsletter (e.g., email address, name if applicable) will be stored on Brevo’s servers within the EU.

Data security & legal basis
Data processing is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. You can revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future, for example, via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter.

Analysis by Brevo
Our newsletters with Brevo contain a so-called tracking pixel, which is used to measure opening and click behavior. This statistical analysis helps us improve the newsletter content and technology. If you do not wish to have your data analyzed, you should not subscribe to the newsletter or unsubscribe.

Order processing
Brevo has a contract for order processing in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. Brevo is committed to protecting our users‘ data and not sharing it with third parties.

Unsubscribe
You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, e.g., via the link at the end of each email or by emailing us. Your data will then be deleted from the newsletter distribution list, unless there are statutory retention periods.

Further information can be found in Brevo’s privacy policy:
https://www.brevo.com/en/legal/privacypolicy/

Plugins and tools

– YouTube

This website embeds videos from the YouTube website. The website is operated by Google Ireland Limited („Google“), Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

When you visit one of our websites that integrates YouTube, a connection to YouTube’s servers is established. The YouTube server is informed which of our pages you have visited.

Furthermore, YouTube may store various cookies on your device or use similar recognition technologies (e.g., device fingerprinting). This allows YouTube to receive information about visitors to this website. This information is used, among other things, to collect video statistics, improve user-friendliness, and prevent fraud.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, you allow YouTube to directly associate your browsing behavior with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account.

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

Further information on how user data is handled can be found in YouTube’s privacy policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

– Vimeo

Our website embeds videos from the Vimeo platform. The operator of the platform is Vimeo Inc., 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA.

1. Purpose of data processing

Vimeo videos are embedded to present our content in an appealing way and to provide you with multimedia content.

2. Processing of personal data by Vimeo

When you visit one of our pages that contains Vimeo videos, a connection to the Vimeo servers is established. Your IP address and information about which of our pages you have visited are transmitted to Vimeo.

Vimeo may also use cookies or similar technologies to analyze and, where appropriate, personalize visitor interactions.

If you are logged in to Vimeo, Vimeo can directly associate your browsing behavior with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your Vimeo account.

3. Data Transfer to the USA

The processing of your data by Vimeo may also take place in the USA. However, Vimeo has committed to complying with standard contractual clauses to ensure an appropriate level of data protection.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

The use of Vimeo is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interest lies in the attractive presentation of our website. If you have given your consent (e.g., through a cookie banner), data processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR.

5. Data Protection Settings and Right of Objection

You can prevent Vimeo videos from loading by deactivating JavaScript in your browser or using appropriate browser add-ons. However, this may limit the functionality of our website.

Further information on data protection at Vimeo can be found at:
Vimeo Privacy Policy

– Google Web Fonts

This site uses so-called web fonts provided by Google for the uniform display of fonts. When you visit a page, your browser loads the required web fonts into your browser cache to display text and fonts correctly.

For this purpose, the browser you use must establish a connection to Google’s servers. This allows Google to know that this website was accessed via your IP address. The use of Google Web Fonts is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the consistent presentation of typefaces on its website. If consent has been requested, processing is carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and Section 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.

If your browser does not support web fonts, a standard font from your computer will be used.

Further information about 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.

– OpenStreetMap

We use the map service from OpenStreetMap (OSM).

We use the hosting of the OpenStreetMap Foundation on their servers.

OpenStreetMap is used in the interest of an attractive presentation of our online offerings and easy findability of the locations we list on our website. This represents a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. If consent has been requested, processing will be carried out exclusively on the basis of Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR and Section 25 (1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent includes the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s device (e.g., device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent can be revoked at any time.