Privacy Policy

We, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG, Germany and Beckhoff Automation BN, The Netherlands as the operator of the website on the domain www.beckhoff.com (the “website”), are the controller responsible for processing the personal data of users of the website. Our contact information can be found in the “Legal notice” section of the website. The contact persons for questions relating to the processing of personal data are specified in this Privacy Policy.

We take the protection of your privacy and personal data very seriously. We only record, save, and use your personal data in accordance with the content of this Privacy Policy as well as the applicable data protection provisions, in particular the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the national data protection provisions.

This Privacy Policy is intended to provide you with information regarding the extent to which personal data is processed in connection with the use of the website and the purpose of processing such personal data.

Personal data

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes any information about your identity, such as your name, your e-mail address, or your postal address. Information that cannot be linked to your identity (such as statistics, like the number of users of the website) is not considered to be personal data.

Our access to your personal data can either be a result of you granting us such access or the publication of your personal data in public registers, such as the trade register of the local Chamber of Commerce, or other public sources, such as social media.

In general, it is possible to visit our website without disclosing your identity or entering personal data. In this case, we only record general information about your visit to and behaviour on our website. However, some of our services do require pieces of your personal data. We will only process your personal data if we are permitted to do so under the GDPR and local GDPR implementation laws, and only for the purposes stated in this Privacy Policy. When we ask you to provide (personal) data (for example by using a data entry form), we will clearly indicate which pieces of (personal) data are required. You may choose to add additional (non-required) (personal) data, according to your preference. However, we are under no obligation to retain, consider and/or use any non-required (personal) data and may, at any time and at our sole discretion, discard non-required (personal) data.

No automated decisions are made on the basis of your personal data in connection with the use of our website

Processing personal data

We save your data on specially protected servers within the European Union. These servers are subject to technical and organizational measures that protect your data from being lost, destroyed, accessed, modified, or distributed by unauthorized persons. It is only possible for a small number of authorized persons to access your data. These persons are responsible for the technical, commercial, or editorial management of the servers. However, although regular checks are made, it is not possible to protect your data against all risks.

Your personal data is transmitted in encrypted form via the internet. For data transmission purposes, we use TLS/SSL encryption (Transport Layer Security/Secure Socket Layer).

Sharing personal data with third parties

We will not share your personal data with third parties, except when we have obtained your consent or if we are authorized or required to do so on the basis of legal provisions and/or judicial or administrative decisions (for example for the purposes of criminal prosecution, prevention of hazards, or enforcement of intellectual property rights).

If we engage an external service provider to act as a data processor regarding (pieces of) your personal data on our behalf, we undertake to take sufficient technical and organizational measures to ensure compliance with requirements under data protection law, including for the security of processing, and will require that our external service providers do the same.

If we or service providers transmit your personal data to countries outside the European Union, we comply with the special requirements of Art. 44 et seq. of the GDPR and also require our service providers to comply with the same. We will therefore only transmit your data to countries outside the European Union subject to the level of protection guaranteed by the GDPR. In particular, this level of protection is guaranteed by an adequacy decision of the European Commission or by the use of standard data protection clauses in accordance with Art. 46(2)(c) of the GDPR.

Within the framework of our activities, your personal data will be shared by us with the following entities, including our data processors:

• Hosting server of our website;
• Email services
• Telephone services
• Payment services
• Delivery services
• Matomo

Legal basis for data processing

If we obtain consent to the processing of your personal data, Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis for data processing.

If we process your personal data because this is necessary for the performance of a contract or as part of a quasi-contractual relationship with you, Art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis for data processing.

If we process your personal data in order to comply with a legal obligation, Art. 6(1)(c) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis for data processing.

Furthermore, Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR comes into consideration as the legal basis if it is necessary to process your personal data in order to protect the legitimate interests of our company (such as securing proof or determining our legal position) or of a third party, and your interests, fundamental rights, and fundamental freedoms do not require the protection of your personal data. In any case, we will not process more data than what appears to be necessary to adequately carry out our activities and to safeguard our legitimate interests

In this Privacy Policy, we always indicate the legal basis applied to the processing of your personal data.

Erasure of data and storage duration

In principle, we always erase or block your personal data once the purpose of saving it no longer applies. However, the data may be saved beyond this time if this is stipulated by legal requirements to which we are subject, such as with regard to legal retention and documentation obligations. In such cases, we erase or block your personal data once the appropriate requirements no longer apply.

Information about your computer

Every time you access our website, we obtain the following information about your computer, regardless of your registration status: the IP address of your computer, your browser request, and the time of this request. The status and the transmitted data volume are also recorded as part of this request. We also obtain product and version information about the browser used and the computer’s operating system. Furthermore, we record the website from which our website was accessed. Your computer’s IP address is only saved for the period of time in which the website is used and for the following three months. After this time, it is erased or anonymized by abbreviating it. The rest of the data is stored for a limited period of time.

We use this data to operate the website; in particular, we use it to identify and fix errors, to determine the utilization level of the website, and to make modifications or improvements. These purposes also cover our legitimate interest in data processing in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

Use of cookies

Like many web pages, our website uses cookies. Cookies are small text files that are saved on your computer and that store certain settings and data for the purposes of exchange with our website via your browser. A cookie generally contains the name of the domain from which the cookie file was sent, as well as information about the age of the cookie and an alphanumeric identifier.

Cookies enable us to identify your computer and to make any default settings available immediately. As far as possible, we use session cookies, which are automatically erased at the end of the browser session. In limited cases, we may also use cookies with a longer storage duration so that your default settings and preferences can be taken into account the next time you visit our website.

Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. However, you can deactivate the saving of cookies or adjust your browser settings so that it informs you as soon as cookies are sent. It is also possible to erase previously saved cookies manually via the browser settings. Please note that your use of our website may be blocked or restricted if you do not consent to the saving of cookies or if you erase required cookies.

If cookies are not required for our website, we request that you consent to the use of cookies the first time you access the website. In each case, the legal basis for the associated data processing, including the sharing of data with third parties, is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. Once consent is granted, it can be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future, in particular by changing the selected settings.

The legal basis for the use of required cookies is our legitimate interest in the proper provision of our website in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR and – if contracts are concluded or performed via our website – the performance of a contract in accordance with Art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

Registration

You can register to use our website under “myBeckhoff.” To do this, you must share the data that is requested during the registration process, such as your name, address, and e-mail address. We also record the date and time of registration and the IP address. During the registration process, we obtain your consent to the use of the data. This gives you the advantage of not having to enter this data every time you use the website or place an order.

The legal basis for the processing of data for the purposes of registration is Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR when consent is granted. If you register with us for the purposes of the performance or initiation of a contract, the additional legal basis for the processing of data is Art. 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

The information requested as mandatory fields during the registration process is required for the performance or initiation of a contract with us for specific services. However, you are not under any obligation to register. It is also possible to conclude a contract without registering.

When you register, a customer account is created for you. We store the data in the customer account for as long as an active customer relationship exists. If it is not possible to identify any activity for a period of three years, the status of the customer relationship is set to inactive. You can request that your customer account be erased at any time.

Matomo

For our website, we use the open-source software Matomo (formerly Piwik) for statistical evaluation of usage. Matomo is a web analytics service. The data collected through Matomo is stored in a database for the purposes of usage analysis in order to optimize our web pages. The data collected includes the abbreviated IP address, the time, the web pages accessed, the web page from which you accessed our web page (“referrer”), the browser used, the period of time you stayed on our web pages, and the frequency of access.

The evaluations generated with Matomo are fully anonymized and cannot be used to identify an individual person. The data saved by Matomo is not linked to any other data sources or shared with third parties.

Our legal basis for the use of Matomo is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You are free to withdraw this consent at any time. Any data processing operations completed before consent is withdrawn are not affected. You can opt out of Matomo data analysis by following this link.

Privacy settings

You can edit your settings for privacy and the individual cookies here.

Google Maps

For certain features of our website, we access third-party services. These services are primarily optional features that you need to explicitly select or use. We have concluded contractual agreements with the relevant providers for the provision or integration of their services and we do everything we can to ensure that the third-party providers give transparent information about the extent to which personal data is processed and comply with data protection provisions.

Google Maps

We use Google Maps to generate directions and display the locations of branches on maps. This is a service of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (hereinafter referred to as “Google”).

In order to display the maps and fonts, a connection to the Google server in the USA is established when our web pages are accessed.

If you access Google Maps when you visit our web page, Google saves a cookie on your end device via your browser. Your user data is processed by Google in order to display the location and generate directions. Google may use servers in the USA for this purpose.

The legal basis for use is your express consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future.

Google can use the data transmitted to Google to identify the web page from which your request was sent and the IP address to which the directions are to be transmitted.

If you do not agree to the saving and processing of your data, it is necessary to prevent the installation of cookies. You can do this by configuring the relevant settings in your browser. In this regard, we refer to our statements on the subject of cookies.

The use of Google Maps is subject to the Google Terms of Service as well as the general terms and conditions. The Google Privacy Policy can be found at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Vimeo

In order to display videos on our website, we use “Vimeo” (Vimeo LLC, 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA, hereinafter referred to as “Vimeo”).

In some cases, user data is processed on Vimeo servers in the USA.

The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You grant your consent by allowing the integration of external content.

If you grant your consent to the embedding of videos from Vimeo, a connection to the Vimeo servers in the USA is established in order to display the video. For technical reasons, your IP address is transmitted to Vimeo and processed by Vimeo for this purpose. In addition, the date and time you visited the relevant page is recorded.

If you are logged in to Vimeo when you visit our web pages on which a Vimeo video is embedded, Vimeo assigns the collected user data to your personal user account. To prevent this, you must either log out of Vimeo before visiting our web pages or configure the account settings on Vimeo accordingly.

Vimeo uses Google Analytics for the purposes of web analytics. Google Analytics saves cookies on your end device via your web browser and sends Google information about the use of our web pages on which a Vimeo video is embedded. Google may save and process the information on servers in the USA.

If you do not agree to the saving and processing of your data, it is necessary to prevent the installation of cookies. You can do this by configuring the relevant settings in your browser. In this regard, we refer to our statements on the subject of cookies.

More information on the collection, use, and processing of data by Vimeo and on your rights and ways to protect your privacy can be found at http://vimeo.com/privacy.

Retargeting or remarketing refers to technologies that show appropriate advertisements to users who have previously visited a certain web page, even after they have left that web page. For this purpose, it is necessary to recognize internet users again after they have left the web page, which is why cookies from the appropriate service providers are used; previous usage behavior is also taken into account. If a user views certain products, for example, they may be shown these or similar products later as advertisements on other web pages. These advertisements are customized to the needs of individual users. For these customized advertisements, it is not necessary for the user to be identified beyond the initial recognition. This means we do not combine the data used for retargeting or remarketing with any other data.

We use technologies of this type to place advertisements on the internet. We use third-party providers to place the advertisements. We use services from Google, among others, to enable products that are of interest to internet users to be shown automatically. This function is implemented using cookies. The possibility that data may be transmitted to Google in the USA in this process, and that US security agencies may gain access to this data, cannot be ruled out. More information about this technology can be found in the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy. The installation of cookies for Google remarketing and Google AdWords conversion tracking can be prevented by configuring the settings in the relevant browser software by accessing the web page http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/ads/ and changing the corresponding settings.

Our legal basis for the use of the cookies described above is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You are free to withdraw this consent at any time. Any data processing operations completed before consent is withdrawn are not affected.

Webinars

You have the option to take part in online webinars hosted by us by following various links on our web pages. If you wish to take part in a webinar, we process personal data that you enter in a registration form, particularly your name, e-mail address, and company or organization. We process the data transmitted via the registration form solely for the purposes of hosting the webinar, contacting you with regard to the event, and sending you further information relating to the webinar.

The webinar will be hosted on the GoToWebinar platform. The controller of this GoToWebinar platform is GoTo Technologies Ireland Unlimited Company, The Reflector, 10 Hanover Quay, Dublin 2, D02R573, Ireland. We have no influence on the processing of data at GoToWebinar. Further information on data processing at GoToWebinar can be found at https://www.goto.com/company/legal and https://www.goto.com/company/legal/privacy.

Our legal basis for data processing in connection with hosting the webinars and with regard to the information transmitted by you to us in this context is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Amazon Web Services

We use Amazon Web Services to save the data collected by us. This is a web hosting service of Amazon Web Services, Inc., 410 Terry Avenue North, Seattle WA 98109, USA.

We use this service to save our data on Amazon servers. If you transmit data to us or if data is lawfully collected from you, this data is stored in the cloud. As the data is stored on servers in the USA, the possibility that security agencies in the USA may access it cannot be ruled out. Amazon is an active participant in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, which regulates the correct and secure transfer of the personal data of EU citizens to the USA.

The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest is in the provision of a fast and secure website.

Further information about data processing can be found in the Amazon Privacy Notice at https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/.

You can apply for a job at our company via the applicant portal. This gives you the opportunity to fill out an applicant survey and submit the information and documents required for the application to us via document upload. Use of the applicant portal is voluntary; you can also send your application to us in another way, such as by e-mail or post.

When you submit an application via the applicant portal, your documents are sent electronically to the responsible employees at our company. If you have applied for an advertised position, the documents will be automatically erased three months after completion of the appointment process, provided that the erasure does not conflict with any other legitimate interests. Legitimate interests of this type may include the burden of proof in proceedings in accordance with the General Act on Equal Treatment (Allgemeines Gleichbehandlungsgesetz – AGG). In the case of an application for a position that is not advertised (speculative application), the application will be retained for as long as the application may be of interest. You can request that your application be erased at any time, including before the scheduled retention periods have elapsed. If your application is successful, the transmitted data will be saved for the purposes of processing the employment relationship, taking account of the legal requirements. The legal basis for processing your personal data is therefore Section 26, Para. 1 Sentence 1 of the Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz – BDSG). Data processing within the context of the applicant portal is also based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

You can contact us in a number of ways, including via the contact form on our web page. We will also be happy to send you regular information by e-mail in our newsletter.

Contact form

If you wish to contact our Sales, Technical Support, or Service teams directly, you can use the online contact form. If you wish to use the contact form, we record the personal data that you enter in the contact form, particularly your name and e-mail address. We also save the IP address and the date and time of the request. We process the data transmitted via the contact form solely for the purposes of responding to your request or concern.

You can choose which information to send via the contact form. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Once we have processed the matter, the data will initially be saved in case there are any subsequent queries. You can request that the data be erased at any time, otherwise we will erase the data once the matter has been fully resolved; legal retention obligations remain unaffected in each case.

Newsletter

If you subscribe to our newsletter, your e-mail address will be used for our own advertising purposes until you unsubscribe. You will receive regular information by e-mail on current topics as well as e-mails for specific events, such as special promotions. The e-mails may be personalized and customized based on our information about you.

Unless you have given us your consent in writing, we use the double opt-in method for subscriptions to our newsletter, i.e. we will only send you a newsletter by e-mail if you have expressly confirmed that you wish us to activate the sending of the newsletter. We will then send you a notification e-mail and ask you to confirm that you wish to receive our newsletter by clicking a link in this e-mail. We record the opening of the newsletter and any links that this may contain. We also process the following data in connection with the use of the newsletter: the e-mail program that you are using, your operating system, the time of access, and your abbreviated IP address.

The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR, provided that you have expressly subscribed to the newsletter. Within the limits of the legal requirements, it is also possible that you may receive our newsletter from us without your express consent because you have ordered goods or services from us, we have received your e-mail address in this context, and you have not declined to receive information by e-mail. In this case, the legal basis is to be seen as our legitimate interest in the transmission of direct marketing in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR.

If you do not wish to continue receiving newsletters from us, you can withdraw the consent that you have granted at any time with effect for the future or decline to continue receiving the newsletter without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs at the basic rates. Simply use the unsubscribe link contained in every newsletter or send a message to us or our Data Protection Officer.

In addition to our website, we use various social media channels for information transmission and communication. You will find links to these channels on our website, and links to our website on these channels. Specifically, we use the social networks Facebook and Instagram, the career network LinkedIn, as well as the YouTube and Vimeo platforms. The links can be identified by the relevant provider logo.

Clicking the links opens the relevant social media websites, which are generally subject to the terms and conditions and privacy policies of the relevant providers. We have provided links to the policies of each provider below for ease of reference, however these URL’s and policies may change over time.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php

Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/519522125107875

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

YouTube: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/privacy

No personal data is transmitted to the relevant providers before opening the corresponding links. When you open the linked site, this is also the basis for data processing by the relevant providers.

If you leave a comment on our social media channels, whether under a post of ours or as a separate post, we will process your name and possibly your profile picture. In principle, we will keep this information indefinitely unless the post is removed from the channel concerned. We have a legitimate interest in retaining these comments, especially if there has been a response, either from us or a third party, to your comment.

Please note that the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) provides general information on the safe use of social networks on its web page at https://www.bsi.bund.de/EN/Themen/Verbraucherinnen-und-Verbraucher/Informationen-und-Empfehlungen/Onlinekommunikation/Soziale-Netzwerke/soziale-netzwerke_node.html.

Our use of social media channels is also subject to the notices in and resulting from this Privacy Policy regarding the associated processing of your personal data.

Facebook fan page

In addition to our website, we also operate a fan page on the Facebook social network. The fan page provides information about our activities as well as a communication channel. The operator of the Facebook social network is Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland (hereinafter referred to as “Meta”). We therefore access the technical platform and services of Meta.

Delimitation of responsibility

Please note that you use the fan page and its features under your own responsibility, particularly with regard to interactive features such as comments, shares, or ratings. Alternatively, you can access the information provided on the fan page via our homepage.

As far as possible on Facebook, we try to protect your privacy and your personal data. If we process your personal data in connection with your visit to the fan page, the explanations in this Privacy Policy apply without restriction. Please also note that personal data is processed by Meta at the same time due to the integration of the fan page in the Facebook website. When you visit the fan page, Meta records data such as your IP address as well as other information that may be saved on the end device that you are using or in the relevant browser in the form of cookies. We have no influence on the processing of data by Meta; in particular, Facebook does not come under our responsibility as a processor for us. According to information provided by Meta, data processing by Facebook is subject to the Facebook policy, which can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/?entry_point=data_policy_redirect&entry=0. Please note that the data about you collected by Meta in this context may also be transmitted outside the European Union.

From the perspective of data protection law, joint responsibility between Meta and us can be assumed with regard to the operation of the fan page or the evaluation of user data when visiting the fan page. In accordance with requirements under data protection law, we have concluded an agreement internally with Meta regarding the delimitation of responsibility.

Facebook Insights

Meta gives operators of fan pages the option to gain an overview of the usage of the fan page and its users via the Page Insights feature. In particular, Page Insights can be used to access and evaluate statistical data. We use the data from Page Insights to make the fan page as attractive and efficient as possible. For this purpose, Meta provides us with data that Meta has generated itself. Facebook provides further information on the functionality of the Page Insights feature and the relevant responsibilities at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum.

Messenger

Users who are registered on Facebook also have the option to communicate directly via Facebook Messenger. If you contact us via Messenger, the transmitted data is saved and used by us solely to respond to your request. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR as well as our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest is in the recording and processing of customer inquiries, the evaluation of customer inquiries, as well as the monitoring of unfair practices.

The data is erased as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which is was collected. For your personal data, this is the case when the relevant conversation has ended. The conversation ends for us when it can be taken from the circumstances that the relevant matter has been fully resolved. You have the option to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time; in this case, we will erase the data immediately provided that there is no basis for continuing to store it.

Further information on Facebook

If you have any questions about our use of personal data in connection with the use of the fan page on Facebook, you can contact us and our Data Protection Officer at any time. The contact details and communication channels are provided in our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about data protection at Facebook, please contact Meta directly.

Instagram account

We also have an account on the Instagram social network. The Instagram account provides information in the form of publications about our activities and offers another communication channel with us. The Instagram social network is operated by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, 4 Grand Canal Square, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Please note that you use Instagram and its features under your own responsibility, particularly with regard to interactive features such as comments, shares, or ratings.

Responsibility under data protection law

As far as possible on Instagram, we try to protect your privacy and your personal data. If we process your personal data in connection with your visit to the Instagram account, the explanations in this Privacy Policy apply without restriction. Please also note that personal data is processed by Meta at the same time due to the integration of the account in Meta services. When you access our Instagram content, Meta records data such as your IP address as well as other information that may be saved on the end device that you are using or in the relevant browser in the form of cookies. We have no influence on the processing of data by Instagram; in particular, Meta does not come under our responsibility as a processor for us. According to information provided by Meta, data processing by Meta is subject to the Facebook policy, which can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/help/instagram/155833707900388. Please note that the data about you collected by Meta in this context may also be transmitted outside the European Union.

From the perspective of data protection law, two separate responsibilities can be assumed for Meta and us regarding the operation of the Instagram account and the associated communication and evaluation options. If we process your data in connection with your visit to our Instagram page and we alone decide the purposes and means of this data processing, we are responsible for this data processing. This is generally the case if you communicate with us directly via the “Instagram Direct Messaging” feature and transmit you data to us in the process. If Meta processes your data and Meta alone decides the purposes and means of this data processing, Meta alone is responsible for this data processing. This applies in particular to the evaluation of user behavior by Meta for its own purposes.

Instagram Insights

Meta gives operators of Instagram accounts the option to gain an overview of the usage of the account and its users via the “Instagram Insights” feature. In particular, Instagram Insights can be used to access and evaluate statistical data. We use the data from Instagram Insights to make the Instagram account as attractive and efficient as possible. For this purpose, Meta provides us with data that Meta has generated itself under its own responsibility. The data that we receive from Meta is mostly anonymized data and statistics. If we receive personal data in this context, we are responsible for our further processing of this data for the purposes of evaluation of the usage of our Instagram account.

Meta provides further information about Instagram Insights at https://help.instagram.com/1533933820244654.

Instagram Direct Messaging

On Instagram, you have the option to communicate with us directly via the “Instagram Direct Messaging” feature . If you contact us via the Instagram Direct Messaging feature, the transmitted data is saved and used by us solely to respond to your request. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR as well as our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest is in the recording and processing of customer inquiries, the evaluation of customer inquiries, as well as the monitoring of unfair practices.

The data is erased as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which is was collected. For your personal data, this is the case when the relevant conversation has ended. The conversation ends for us when it can be taken from the circumstances that the relevant matter has been fully resolved. You have the option to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time; in this case, we will erase the data immediately provided that there is no basis for continuing to store it.

Further information on Instagram

If you have any questions about our use of personal data in connection with the use of our Instagram account, you can contact us and our Data Protection Officer at any time. The contact details and communication channels are provided in our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about data protection on the social network Instagram provided by Meta, please contact Meta directly.

LinkedIn account

In addition to our website, we also operate an account on the LinkedIn career network. The account provides information about our company and activities and offers a communication channel. The LinkedIn career network is operated by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (“LinkedIn”).

Please note that you use the career network and its features under your own responsibility. This applies in particular to the use of the interactive features (e.g. likes, shares, comments).

Processing personal data

The data about you collected during use of the service is processed by LinkedIn. It is possible that data may also be transmitted to countries outside the European Union. The processed data includes but is not limited to the data entered voluntarily by you, such as your name, user name, e-mail address, telephone number, career information, profile data, content that you create, upload, or receive, as well as comments, your IP address, information on the end device that you use, information on web pages and content accessed, and your location. We have no influence on the type and extent of the data processed by LinkedIn, the type of processing, or the sharing of this data with third parties. You will find information about what types of data are processed by LinkedIn and for what purposes they are used in the LinkedIn Privacy Policy at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

We process the data you enter on LinkedIn to the extent that we like, comment on, or share your posts, or contact you and interact with you. In this way, the information freely published and distributed by you on LinkedIn is integrated by us into our offering.

The general settings for your LinkedIn account offer ways to restrict the processing of your data. In addition, the setting options on mobile devices allow you to restrict access for LinkedIn to contact and calendar information, photos, location information, etc. However, this is dependent on the operating system used. Further information about the data protection settings on LinkedIn can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Analytics

LinkedIn gives operators of LinkedIn accounts the option to gain an overview of the usage of the account and its users. In particular, the analytics feature can be used to access and evaluate statistical data. We use the data to make our account as attractive and efficient as possible. For this purpose, LinkedIn provides us with data that LinkedIn has generated itself under its own responsibility. The data that we receive from LinkedIn is mostly anonymized data and statistics. If we receive personal data in this context, we are responsible for our further processing of this data for the purposes of evaluation of the usage of our LinkedIn account. Further information can be found in the LinkedIn Privacy Policy at https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.

Communication

On LinkedIn, you have the option to communicate with us directly. If you contact us via LinkedIn, the transmitted data is saved and used by us solely to respond to your request. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR as well as our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest is in the recording and processing of inquiries, the evaluation of inquiries, as well as the monitoring of unfair practices.

The data is erased as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which is was collected. For your personal data, this is the case when the relevant conversation has ended. The conversation ends for us when it can be taken from the circumstances that the relevant matter has been fully resolved. You have the option to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time; in this case, we will erase the data immediately provided that there is no basis for continuing to store it.

Further information on LinkedIn

If you have any questions about our use of personal data in connection with the use of our LinkedIn account, you can contact us and our Data Protection Officer at any time. The contact details and communication channels are provided in our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about data protection at LinkedIn, please contact LinkedIn directly.

YouTube channel

We also operate a channel on the YouTube video platform. The channel provides information about our activities as well as a communication channel. The YouTube video platform is operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Please note that you use the video platform and its features under your own responsibility. This applies in particular to the use of the interactive features (e.g. discussions, comments).

Processing personal data

The data about you collected during the use of the service is processed by Google and may also be transmitted to countries outside the European Union. The processed data includes but is not limited to the data entered voluntarily by you, such as your name, user name, e-mail address, and telephone number, as well as the content you upload, or receive, such as photos and videos, documents, and tables, as well as comments, your IP address, information on the end device that you use, information on web pages and content accessed, and your location and mobile service provider. We have no influence on the type and extent of the data processed by Google, the type of processing, or the sharing of this data with third parties. You will find information about what types of data are processed by Google and for what purposes they are used in the Google Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US.

We process the data that you enter on YouTube, particularly your user name and the content published on your account, to the extent that we may link your posts or reply to these posts or create our own posts that reference your account. In this way, the information freely published and distributed by you on YouTube is integrated by us into our offering and made accessible to our followers.

The general settings for your Google account offer ways to restrict the processing of your data. In addition, the setting options on mobile devices allow you to restrict access for Google to contact and calendar information, photos, location information, etc. However, this is dependent on the operating system used. In addition to these tools, Google offers specific privacy controls for YouTube. You can learn more here: https://policies.google.com/privacy#infochoices.

YouTube Analytics

Google gives operators of YouTube channels the option to gain an overview of the usage of the account and its users via the “YouTube Analytics” feature. In particular, YouTube Analytics can be used to access and evaluate statistical data. We use the data from YouTube Analytics to make the YouTube channel as attractive and efficient as possible. For this purpose, Google provides us with data that Google has generated itself under its own responsibility. The data that we receive from Google is mostly anonymized data and statistics. If we receive personal data in this context, we are responsible for our further processing of this data for the purposes of evaluation of the usage of our YouTube channel. Google provides further information about YouTube Analytics at https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/9002587?hl=en.

Further information on YouTube

If you have any questions about our use of personal data in connection with the use of the YouTube channel, you can contact us and our Data Protection Officer at any time. The contact details and communication channels are provided in our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions about data protection at Google, please contact Google directly.

Vimeo channel

In addition to our website, we also operate a channel on the Vimeo video platform. The channel provides information about our activities as well as a communication channel. Vimeo is operated by Vimeo, Inc., 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA.

Please note that you use the Vimeo platform and its features under your own responsibility. This applies in particular to the use of the interactive features (e.g. comments).

Processing personal data

The data about you collected during the use of the service is processed by Vimeo and may also be transmitted to countries outside the European Union. The processed data includes but is not limited to the data entered voluntarily by you, such as your name, user name, e-mail address, and telephone number, as well as the content you upload, or receive, such as photos and videos, documents, and tables, as well as comments, your IP address, information on the end device that you use, information on web pages and content accessed, and your location and mobile service provider. We have no influence on the type and extent of the data processed by Vimeo, the type of processing, or the sharing of this data with third parties.

Further information on data processing at Vimeo can be found at https://vimeo.com/privacy.

We process the data that you enter on Vimeo, particularly your user name and the content published on your account, to the extent that we may link your posts or reply to these posts or create our own posts that reference your account. In this way, the information freely published and distributed by you on Vimeo is integrated by us into our offering and made accessible to our followers.

The general settings for your Vimeo account offer ways to restrict the processing of your data. In addition, the setting options on mobile devices allow you to restrict access for Vimeo to contact and calendar information, photos, location information, etc. However, this is dependent on the operating system used.

Direct messages

On Vimeo, you have the option to communicate with us directly using the “Message” feature. If you contact us via this feature, the transmitted data is saved and used by us solely to respond to your request. The legal basis for processing your data is your consent in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) of the GDPR as well as our legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest is in the recording and processing of customer inquiries, the evaluation of customer inquiries, as well as the monitoring of unfair practices.

The data is erased as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which is was collected. For your personal data, this is the case when the relevant conversation has ended. The conversation ends for us when it can be taken from the circumstances that the relevant matter has been fully resolved. You have the option to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time; in this case, we will erase the data immediately provided that there is no basis for continuing to store it.

Vimeo Analytics

Vimeo gives operators of Vimeo channels the option to gain an overview of the usage of the account and its users via the Analytics feature. In particular, Vimeo Analytics can be used to access and evaluate statistical data. We use the data from Vimeo Analytics to make the Vimeo channel as attractive and efficient as possible. For this purpose, Vimeo provides us with data that Vimeo has generated itself under its own responsibility. The data that we receive from Vimeo is mostly anonymized data and statistics. If we receive personal data in this context, we are responsible for our further processing of this data for the purposes of evaluation of the usage of our Vimeo channel. Vimeo provides further information about Vimeo Analytics at https://vimeo.com/features/video-analytics.

We believe it is very important to be as transparent as possible when explaining how your personal data is processed and to inform you about your rights. If you wish to receive more information or exercise your rights, you can contact us at any time so that we can take care of your request.

Rights of the data subject

You have a large number of rights in relation to the processing of your personal data. Firstly, you have an extensive right of access and can request that your personal data be rectified and/or erased or blocked if necessary. You can also request a restriction of processing and have a right to object. With regard to the data transmitted to us by you, you also have a right to data portability.

If you wish to exercise one of your rights and/or wish to receive more information in this regard, please contact our Customer Service team. Alternatively, you can also contact our Data Protection Officer.

Withdrawal of consent and objection

Once you have granted consent, it can be withdrawn freely at any time with effect for the future. The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of the processing completed on the basis of the consent up to the time of withdrawal. Our Customer Service team and Data Protection Officer are also the points of contact in this matter.

If the processing of your personal data is not based on consent but on another legal basis, you can object to this data processing. Your objection will lead to a review and possibly to a termination of the data processing. You will be informed of the results of the review and – in the event that data processing will be continued despite the objection – you will receive more information from us as to why data processing is permissible.

Data Protection Officer and contact

We have appointed a Data Protection Officer who provides us with support in relation to matters under data protection law and who is available for you to contact directly. Our Data Protection Officer is available if you have any questions about how we handle personal data or if you require more information about matters under data protection law:

Mr. Hans-Peter Jakobfeuerborn
Phone: +49 5246 963-0
E-mail: datenschutz@beckhoff.de

Complaints

If you believe that the processing of your personal data by us is not in accordance with this Privacy Policy or the applicable data protection provisions, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. You can submit a complaint to our Data Protection Officer. The Data Protection Officer will then review the matter and inform you of the results of the review.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites. These links are generally identified as such. By clicking on a link, you will be directed to a website outside of our website. It may be that that website is using cookies. We have no influence on the extent to which the linked web pages comply with the applicable data protection provisions. We recommend that you consult the cookie and privacy policies of every (directed) website you visit as well as the local data protection laws.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

The status of this Privacy Policy is identified by the date information (below). We reserve the right to change this Privacy Policy at any time with effect for the future. In particular, a change is made in the event of technical modifications to the website or in the event of changes to the requirements under data protection law. The current version of the Privacy Policy is always available to access directly via the website. We recommend that you inform yourself regularly of any changes to this Privacy Policy.

Status of this Privacy Policy: February 2024