Privacy Statement

As at 03/2022

We are delighted that you are visiting our blog and that you have shown an interest in our company. The protection of your personal data is very important to us.

Using the information below we want to inform you about the processing of your personal data when you visit our website. Naturally we observe the statutory provisions, particularly the European General Data Protection Regulation (EU-GDPR) and the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG-new).

1. Who is responsible for data processing and who can I contact?

Responsible body within the meaning of GDPR

Balluff GmbH
Schurwaldstraße 9
73765 Neuhausen a.d.F.
Germany
Phone +49 7158 173-0
Fax +49 7158 5010
balluff@balluff.de
www.balluff.com

Further information can be found in the legal notice (Imprint).
EU Cookie-Policy

Should you have any questions, suggestions, or complaints, please contact our Group Data Protection Commissioner:

You can reach the Group Data Protection Commissioner by sending an e-mail to dataprotection@balluff.de or a letter “for the attention of (FAO) Data Protection Commissioner” to our postal address.

2. Processing of personal data when visiting our blog

Personal data is data that can identify you directly or indirectly, e.g. name, address, e-mail address, account details, or your date of birth.

When using the blog for information purposes, i.e. when you do not register or otherwise submit information to us, we collect the usage data which is gathered by the wordpress plugin Jetpack. The legal basis is Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 let. f GDPR. You can find more information about this, particularly with regard to your rights, in point 5.

Apart from the use of our blog for purely information purposes, we offer different services which you can use if you are interested and for which you voluntarily disclose your personal data.

More information can be found in the points below.

3. Legal bases

Insofar as we obtain consent from the data subjects for the processing of personal data, Art. 6 Para. 1 let. a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as a legal basis. For the processing of personal data that is required for the fulfillment of a contract, whose contracting party is the data subject, Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. b GDPR serves as a legal basis. This shall also apply to processing operations that are required for the implementation of precontractual measures. Insofar as the processing of personal data is required for the fulfillment of a legal obligation, to which our company is subject, Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. c GDPR serves as a legal basis. For cases where vital interests of the data subject or another natural person make necessary the processing of personal data, Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. d GDPR serves as a legal basis. If the processing is required to safeguard the legitimate interest of our company or a third party and the interests, fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject do not outweigh the first-mentioned interest, then Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f GDPR shall serve as a legal basis for the processing.

More information can be found in the individual features of our website.

4. Use of cookies

Cookies are used on this website. A cookie is a small file that can be stored on your computer when you visit a website. Cookies are generally stored in order to offer users additional features on our website.

We use the following types of cookies, whose scope and operating principle are explained below:

  • transient cookies (see 4.1)
  • persistent cookies (see 4.2)
4.1 Transient cookies

Transient cookies are automatically deleted when you close the browser. They include, in particular, session cookies. They save a so-called session ID which can be used to assign different queries from your browser to the joint session. As a result, your computer can be recognized when you return to our website. The session cookies are deleted when you log out or close the browser.

4.2 Persistent cookies

Persistent cookies are automatically deleted after a specified time which may vary depending on the cookie. You can delete the cookies in the security settings of your browser at any time.

You can configure your browser setting according to your wishes and refuse the acceptance of third-party cookies or all cookies. Click on the HELP feature in your browser if you want to find out more about this.

Please note that you may not be able to use all features on the subsequent website if you block or delete cookies.

We use cookies in order to be able to identify you for subsequent visits if you have an account with us. Otherwise, you have to log in each time you visit our website.

The flash cookies used are not collected by your browser, but by your flash plug-in. We also use HTML5 storage objects that are placed on your end device. These objects store the necessary data irrespective of the browser used by you and have no automatic expiration date. If you do not want to allow the processing of flash cookies, you have to install a corresponding add-on, e.g. BetterPrivacy for Mozilla Firefox or the Adobe Flash Killer Cookie for Google Chrome. You can prevent the use of HTML5 storage objects by setting your browser to privacy mode. We also recommend you manually delete your cookies and the browser history on a regular basis.

More information about the cookies can be found here.

5. Use of Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service of Google Inc. (Google), which uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about your usage of this website is generally transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Upon activation of the IP anonymization on this website, your IP address is shortened beforehand by Google within European Union member states or in other countries which are contracting parties to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transferred to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. Google shall use this information on behalf of the operator of this website in order to evaluate your usage of the website, compile reports about the website activities, and to provide further services to the website operator associated with the website and Internet usage.

The IP address transferred by your browser within the framework of Google Analytics is not merged with other data of Google.

You can prevent the storage of cookies with a corresponding setting on your browser software; however, please note that with this setting you may not be able to fully use all features of this website. You can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to your usage of the website (incl. your IP address) by Google, as well as the processing of this data by Google, by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

This website uses Google Analytics with the extension “anonymizeIp()”. This means that IP addresses are only processed further in abbreviated form to prevent them from being directly linked to a particular individual. If a personal connection can be made from the data collected about you, it is rejected immediately and the personal data is deleted straight away.

We use Google Analytics in order to be able to analyze and regularly improve the usage of our website. Using the statistics we can improve our offering and make it more interesting for you as a user. For exceptions, where personal data is transferred to the USA, Google is subject to the EU-US Privacy Shield, www.privacyshield.gov/EU-US-Framework. The legal basis for the usage of Google Analytics is Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 let. f GDPR.

This website also uses Google Analytics for the analysis of visitors across multiple devices, which is done using a user ID. You can prevent the storage of cookies with a corresponding setting on your browser software. However, please note that in this case you may not be able to use all features of this website.

You can also prevent Google collecting your data in conjunction with Google Analytics by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link:tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

You can prevent the collection of your data by Google Analytics on this website by clicking on the link below. An opt-out cookie is placed that prevents the collection of your data in the future when you visit this website:

Deactivate Google Analytics

More information about the terms of use of Google, as well as Google’s privacy statement:

Google Dublin, Google Ireland Ltd., Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, Fax: +353 (1) 436 1001.
Terms of Use: www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html. Overview of data protection: www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/learn/privacy.html . Privacy statement: www.google.de/intl/gb/policies/privacy.

6. Use of Jetpack (WordPress Stats)

This blog uses the WordPress Plugin Jetpack (here the subfunction “WordPress Stats”) on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation of our online offer in the sense of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. of the German Data Protection Act). DSGVO) the WordPress Plugin Jetpack (here the sub-function “WordPress Stats”), which includes a tool for statistical evaluation of visitor access and from Automattic Inc., 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. Jetpack uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site.

The information generated by the cookie about your use of this online service is stored on a server in the USA. User profiles of the users can be created from the processed data, whereby these are only used for analysis and not for advertising purposes. Further information can be found in Automattic’s data protection declarations: https://automattic.com/privacy/ and information on Jetpack cookies: https://jetpack.com/support/cookies/.

Please note that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this blog to their full extent.

6.1 WiredMinds

Our blog uses counting pixel technology provided by WiredMinds GmbH to analyze visitor behavior.
In connection with this, the IP address of the visitor is processed. The processing occurs only for the purpose of collecting company based information such as company name, for example. IP addresses of natural persons are excluded from any further processing by means of a whitelist. An IP address is not stored in LeadLab under any circumstances.
While processing data, it is our outmost interest to protect the rights of natural persons. Our interest in processing data is based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. At no time is it possible
to draw conclusions from the collected data on an identifiable person.
We use this information to create anonymized usage profiles of the visit behavior on our blog. Data obtained during this process is not used to personally identify visitors of
our blog.
Exclude from tracking: https://www.innovating-automation.blog/leadlab-opt-out

Please note that this is done by setting a cookie, in which information is stored, which is preventing the collection of your pseudonymized user data. If you delete your browser
cookies or use a different browser on your next visit, you will need to click the link again.

7. Other features and offers of our blog

Apart from using our website for purely informative purposes, we also offer different services that you can use if you are interested. For this purpose, you generally have to provide personal data which we use to provide the respective service and for which the principles of data processing apply.

Sometimes we use external service providers to operate our blog and the associated processes. We observe the requirements of Art. 28 GDPR, § 62 BDSG-new. We concluded a contract on the processing in accordance with instructions with the processors, which ensures that your personal data is processed for a specific purpose and not disclosed.

If your data has to be processed by a provider in a third country (countries without corresponding data protection law), the processing is protected by international contracts in accordance with the European requirements.

Information on the suitable or appropriate guarantees and the option to obtain a copy thereof can be made available by the Data Protection Commissioner on request.

Our blog also uses features of other service providers. You are redirected to the actual website of the service provider for their use. You are informed accordingly before the redirect. You can view the respective privacy statements on the websites of the service providers.

As the offers of these service providers are made under their own name and for their own purposes, Balluff is unable to influence these offers or assume responsibility for the respective offers.

7.1 Use of social media icons

We have configured social media icons on our website. You can reach the following social media platforms with a simple mouse click: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Xing, LinkedIn, and induux. When you visit our website, in principle no personal data is forwarded to the providers. You can recognize the providers of the platforms by the logo. We give you the option to reach their website directly via the icon in Balluff posts.

We have no influence on the collected data and data processing methods nor are we aware of the full extent of the data collection, the purposes of the processing, and the storage periods. We also have no information on the deletion.

By clicking on the icon we give you the option of obtaining information from Balluff on the respective platform. The legal basis for the usage is Art. 6 Para. 1 Clause 1 let. f GDPR.

Below you can find the addresses of the social media platforms where you can view their privacy statements.

7.2 Shariff Share-function

We use the privacy secure “Shariff” buttons. “Shariff” was developed to provide more privacy on the net and to replace the usual “share” buttons of social networks. It is not the user’s browser, but the server on which this online service is located, that establishes a connection with the server of the respective social media platforms and queries, for example, the number of Likes, etc.. The user remains anonymous. More information about the Shariff project can be found at the developers of the magazine c’t: www.ct.de

Common social media buttons transfer the user data to Facebook & Co. every time a page is opened and provide social networks with precise information about your surfing behaviour (user tracking). You do not need to be logged in or a member of the network to do this. A Shariff button, on the other hand, only establishes direct contact between the social network and the visitor when the latter actively clicks on the share button.
In this way Shariff prevents you from leaving a digital trace on every page you visit and improves data protection. The display of the “Likes” comes thanks to Shariff from the operator of the website with the share buttons. Because Shariff is integrated by the webmaster, you as a visitor don’t have to do anything else.

7.3 Integration of YouTube videos

1) We have embedded YouTube videos in our online offer, which are stored on www.youtube.com and can be played directly from our website.

2) When you visit the website YouTube is informed that you called up the corresponding subpage from our website. YouTube also collects the following data:

  • IP address
  • Date and time of request
  • Time zone difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
  • Content of the request (specific page)
  • Access status/HTTP status code
  • Data volume transferred
  • Website from where the request has come from
  • Browser
  • Operating system and its interface
  • Language and version of browser software.

This occurs irrespective of whether YouTube provides a user account, via which you are logged in, or if there is no user account. If you are logged in to Google, your data is assigned directly to your account. If you do not want the data to be assigned to your YouTube profile, you have to log out before activating the button. YouTube saves your data as usage profiles and uses them for advertising, market research, and/or the needs-based design of its website. Any such analysis is effected particularly (even for users who are not logged in) for the provision of appropriate advertising and in order to inform other users of the social network about your activities on our website. You have the right to object to the creation of these user profiles, whereby you must submit the objection to YouTube.

3) More information about the purpose and scope of the data collection and its processing by YouTube can be found in the privacy statement. There you also obtain further information about your rights and setting options for the protection of your privacy: www.google.de/intl/en/policies/privacy. Google also processes your personal data in the USA and is subject to the EU-US Privacy Shield, www.privacyshield.gov/EU-US-Framework.

7.4 Comments and posts

Users of our blog can leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses will be stored on the basis of our legitimate interests within the meaning of Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. of the DSGVO for 7 days. DSGVO will be stored for 7 days. This is done for our security, if someone leaves illegal contents in comments and contributions (insults, forbidden political propaganda, etc.). In this case we can be prosecuted ourselves for the comment or contribution and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

Furthermore, we reserve the right, on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. f. of the DSGVO, to take legal action against the author. DSGVO, to process the data of the users for the purpose of spam recognition.

On this legal basis, we reserve the right, in the case of surveys, to store the IP addresses of users for their duration and to use cookies in order to avoid multiple voting.

The data provided in the context of comments and contributions will be stored permanently by us until the user objects.

8. Duration of storage

We shall only store your personal data for as long as is required for the intended purpose of data collection, or as required by law. The data is only stored beyond this period if this is required according to laws, rules, or other regulations of the European Union or a member state of the European Union, to which we are subject. More information can be found in the individual features of our blog.

9. Objection to processing of your data or revocation of consent

If you gave your consent for the processing of your data, you can revoke it again at any time for future effect. You can send your notice of revocation to balluff@balluff.de. Please note that we may be legally bound to continue to store the data despite receipt of the objection or cancellation.

You can, of course, object to the processing of your personal data for advertising purposes at any time. The contact details can be found under point 1.

10. Your rights

If your personal data is processed, you are a data subject within the meaning of the GDPR, and you have the following rights vis-a-vis the responsible body:

  • Right of access
  • Right of rectification or erasure
  • Right of limiting the processing
  • Right of objection to the processing
  • Right of data portability

You have the right to file a complaint at any time with the data protection supervisory authority about the processing of your personal data by us.

11. Changes to the privacy statement

Due to the dynamic development of the Internet offer and possible legislative amendments, it may be necessary to adapt our privacy statement from time to time. Therefore, you should always take note of the current version of our privacy statement.

Credits: Some parts of this privacy statement have been translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator