Our web page uses cookies. A cookie is a text file which stores information for a limited period. Most websites use cookies. These are automatically downloaded and stored by your browser the first time you visit a website. A cookie like these contains at least two components, the name and value of the file.Mostly there is also a self-delete date, which can set a given lifetime for the cookie. This is why we distinguish between session cookies and persistent cookies. Session cookies are automatically deleted when the browser is closed. Persistent cookies stay stored on your computer for as long as the set lifetime of the cookie. They are only deleted after the set period. These cookies remember your preferences when you visit the site again.
Why are cookies needed at all?
Cookies are meant to make the user’s visit to the website easier and more user-friendly. For example, with online shopping they enable the website to “remember” on your next visit what products you have in your shopping cart, or to automatically display your preferred layout and font size. However, not all cookies are useful and solely for the user’s benefit. For example, tracking cookies are used to follow your behavior on websites and place advertising accordingly, or to make websites more user-friendly. You should accordingly think about which cookies to accept and which to reject. For this decision, it is helpful to know what kinds of cookies there are.
What cookies are there?
Session cookies (cookies which are technically necessary) are cookies which are essential for ensuring key functions of the website. Without these the website cannot be used as intended. Among other things, they ensure functionality when changing pages or switching between http and https to meet enhanced security requirements. These cookies collect anonymized information (no connection can be established with you personally) and cannot track your moves to other websites. They are only stored for the time of the session, which makes them session cookies. Your agreement to use these cookies is not required.
We use cookies to make our service more user-friendly, effective and secure. Cookies also enable our systems to recognize your browser and offer you services even if you change pages. Some functions of our website cannot be offered without the use of cookies. These require your browser to be recognized even after changing pages.
We need cookies and store the associated data for the following applications: inquires, language settings, login information. User data collected by technically required cookies are not used to create user profiles.
Functional cookies
These cookies make it possible to analyze use of the website to measure and analyze performance.
Functional cookies (first party cookies) are legally defined as cookies which are not essential for using a website. However, they perform important tasks which make surfing more convenient. For example, these cookies save your settings such as choice of language. The information they contain only applies to the accessed website.
Performance cookies are cookies which capture information about how a visitor uses a website. In other words, which page a user accesses most frequently, and whether error messages are displayed. These cookies do not store any further information, and they are used exclusively to enhance user-friendliness and match websites more specifically to the user. These data are also stored exclusively in anonymity form.
The following tools are used for this purpose on this website:
– Website analysis – Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc. (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; “Google”).Processing is for the purpose of analyzing this website and its visitors. For this, Google will use the information obtained to analyze your use of the website on behalf of the operator of this website, to generate reports on website activity and provide other services to the website operator in connection with website and internet use. Google does not combine the IP address transmitted by your browser in connection with Google Analytics with other data.
Google Analytics uses cookies which enable an analysis of your use of the website. The information about your use of this website generated by the cookies is generally transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. IP anonymization is activated on this website. This means that Google first truncates your IP address within member states of the European Union or other member states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. The full IP address is only transferred to a Google server in the USA and truncated there in exceptional cases. Your data may also be transferred to the USA. Transfer of data to the USA requires an Adequacy Decision by the European Commission. Processing takes place in accordance with Art. 6(1)f GDPR based on the legitimate interest in providing a needs-based and goal-oriented website. You can also block the storage of the cookies by making an appropriate setting on your browser; however, please note that in this case you may not be able to fully use all the functions of this website. You can also prevent transfer of the data generated by the cookie relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) 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. You can find more information concerning the terms and conditions of use and data protection at https://www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html or https://policies.google.com/?hl=en.
– Use of embedding videos on the website
Our website has embedded videos from the online video provider. We use a special mode of the video player (“privacy mode”) which only collects anonymized use data, avoids session and cookie tracking and anonymizes the user’s IP address.
Marketing cookies
If cookies are used for marketing purposes, we call them marketing cookies. They are used to display advertising which is matched and relevant to the user. They are also used to establish the frequency of appearance of an ad and determine the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. The following tools are used for this purpose on this website:
– Using the Google Inc. re-marketing function.
On our website we use the Google Inc. re-marketing or “similar audiences” function (1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; “Google”). This function is used to analyze visitor behavior and visitor interests.
Google uses cookies to carry out the analysis of website use, which is the basis for creating the interest-related ads. The cookies log visits to the website and collect anonymized data on use of the website. No personal data are stored of visitors to the website. If you subsequently visit another website in the Google Display Network, you will be shown ads integrated into the display which very probably incorporate product and information areas you have previously accessed. Your data may also be transferred to the USA. A European Commission Adequacy Decision is needed for data transfers to the USA. Processing is based on Art. 6(1)f GDPR for the legitimate interest of addressing visitors to the website with targeted advertising, by showing them ads which are personalized and interest-related if they visit other websites in the Google Display Network.
You can permanently deactivate the use of cookies by Google if you go to the following link and download and install the plugin: https://support.google.com/ads/answer/7395996?hl=en
Alternatively, you can deactivate the use of third party cookies by accessing the deactivation page of the Network Advertising Initiative at https://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ and using the further information there concerning opt-outs.
You can find further information on Google Re-marketing and the associated data privacy statement at: https://www.google.com/privacy/ads/
– Use of Twitter universal website tag
With the Twitter remarketing function we can offer visitors to our website ads from the Twitter platform which are based on their interests. Twitter uses “tags” for this. The tags log visits to the website and collect data on use of the website which is pseudonymised and nonpersonal. If you subsequently visit Twitter, integrated ads are displayed based on your interests.
Storage of conversion cookies is based on Art. 6(1)f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior to optimize both their web service and their advertising.
If you do not want Twitter to address you with targeted advertising, you can deactivate this function at Twitter at https://support.twitter.com/articles/20171528. Twitter also supports the “Do Not Track (DNT)” option. You can activate this at: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20171372. You can find further information on data protection at Twitter and Twitter advertising here: https://business.twitter.com/de/help/troubleshooting/how-twitter-ads-work.html
– Use of LinkedIn Insight
We use the LinkedIn Insight Conversion Tool of LinkedIn Corporation (2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA) which enables us to receive information on the use of our website and offer you advertising content matched to your interests from other websites. For this a cookie with a 120 day term is set in your browser which enables LinkedIn to recognize you when you visit a website. LinkedIn uses these data to create anonymous reports for us on advertising activities and information on how you interact with our website. Storage of conversion cookies is based on Art. 6(1)f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both their web service and their advertising.
You can deactivate the LinkedIn Insight Conversion Tool and interest-based advertising by opting out at the following link https://www.linkedin.com/psettings/guest-controls/retargeting-opt-out If you are a LinkedIn member, click on the field “Decline on LinkedIn”. Other visitors click on “Decline”.
You can find further information on data protection at LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy#choices-oblig
– Use of Facebook Pageview tag
With your consent our website uses the Conversion Tracking Pixel Service of Facebook, Inc. (1601 S. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA) (“Facebook”). This allows us to follow user actions after they are forwarded to a service provider’s website by clicking on a Facebook ad. This enables us to record the effectiveness of Facebook advertising for statistical and market research purposes.
The collected data remain anonymous, which means we cannot see the personal data of individual users. However, the collected data are stored and processed by Facebook. Storage of conversion cookies is based on Art. 6(1)f GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in analyzing user behavior in order to optimize both their web service and their advertising.
Facebook can combine the data with the data for your Facebook account and uses the data for its own advertising purposes in accordance with the Facebook data guidelines https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.
Facebook Conversion Tracking also enables Facebook and its partners to show you advertising on and outside Facebook. In addition, a cookie is stored on your computer for these purposes.
Click here to withdraw your consent: https://www.facebook.com/ads/website_custom_audiences/
Third party cookies
If third party content is integrated into a website, the third party can set cookies even though you are not directly on their website. These are called third party cookies. They enable the third party to store information on you as a user and identify you if you visit their own website so that they can present a website modified for you. For example, this is possible if YouTube videos are embedding in a website.
Where can I see my cookie settings?
Most websites have a statement on the use of cookies. You can use your browser settings to modify acceptance of cookies to match your wishes. Most browsers allow you to accept all cookies, delete all cookies, or only accept certain types of cookies. You can block the storage of cookies on your device by selecting “block all cookies”. However, if all cookies are blocked, this can result in restricted functionality of websites. You can delete the cookies already stored on your device at any time. To learn how this works in detail, see the instructions concerning your browser or device.
You can learn more about how to manage cookies on the most popular browsers (including deactivating them) at the following links:
Chrome: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416?hl=en
Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Mozilla Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/enable-and-disable-cookies-website-preferences
Safari: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/safari/manage-cookies-and-website-data-sfri11471/mac