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Privacy Policy

 

We at item Industrietechnik GmbH (“item”, “we” or “us”) take our data protection responsibilities very seriously. Accordingly, protecting your privacy and your personal data is very important to us. We therefore want to provide you with this Privacy Policy, which explains in more detail which personal data is collected by whom during your visit to our website, and how this data is used. We collect, process and use your personal data in accordance with this Privacy Policy, as well as the applicable data protection laws, especially the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”).

 

1. Data controller 

This website (the “website”) is operated by item. The controller responsible for the processing of personal data within the scope of this website pursuant to the provisions of the GDPR is:

item Industrietechnik GmbH
Friedenstrasse 107-109
42699 Solingen
Germany

Phone: +49 / 212 / 65 80 -300

You can get in touch with us if you have questions regarding the processing of your personal data, and with information requests, suggestions, or complaints:

You can contact our Data Protection Officer at:

item Industrietechnik GmbH
DATA PROTECTION
Friedenstraße 107-109
42699 Solingen

Email: datenschutz@item24.com

2. Collection and processing of personal data, purposes and legal basis of processing, retention period

The term “personal data” includes all individual details on the personal or material circumstances of an identified or identifiable natural person. This includes information such as your name, your address and your telephone number. 

Purely statistical/aggregated information which cannot be connected to you, such as the number of users on a site, is not personal data.

2.1 Usage data collected automatically when you visit our website 

Where you do not log in or register in the course of using the website, or otherwise transfer information, item – like every other website – only collects data which your browser transfers automatically, in order to allow you to visit our website. This so-called usage data is logged in server logfiles. 

This data includes the following: 

  • IP address (internet protocol address) of the computer you accessed the website from;
  • Web address of the website from which the website was called up (so-called origin or referrer URL); 
  • Name of service provider you use to visit the website;
  • Name of the files and/or information retrieved;
  • Date, time and duration of the retrieval;
  • quantity of data transferred;
  • Operating system and information on the internet browser of the computer accessing the website;
  • http status code (e.g. “Request successful”, or “Requested file not found”). 

item stores IP addresses and/or logfile information like the above for security reasons (e.g. in order to identify attempted attacks) for a limited period of time. We process the data accordingly on the basis of our legitimate interests pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. 

The logfile is erased after seven days unless it is required in order to clarify or provide evidence of specific legal violations that have come to light during the storage period.

 

2.2 Personal data collected during registration on our website

You must register and create a user account in order to be able to retrieve product and service information, and to be able to complete processing via the domain item24.de.

We process the following details, which are required for registration (where not marked as “optional” below):

  • first name and surname; 
  • email address;
  • company name;
  • address;
  • country;
  • telephone number;
  • business area;
  • company size (optional);
  • field of work of the person registering (optional);
  • a password of your choice.

In order to complete the online sale, i.e. in order to establish, carry out and process the contracts concluded with us via the domain item24.de, we also collect your

  • VAT identification number (it is not possible to conclude a contract with us without this); 
  • payment information and/or bank account details;
  • shipping details (such as billing and delivery address, where this differs from the address already provided).

We store information which we access in order to manage your user account for as long as your user account is active. 

We process the data in order to be able to convey our services and products to you within the scope of fulfilling the contract according to Article 6(1)(b) GDPR.

When you create a user account, the information you provide there is stored subject to your consent. You can always change the information you provide there (with the exception of the information on your business area, company size and field of activity), or delete the account, in the customer area. We retain information relating to your online transactions for six years.

2.3 Personal data in the context of personalised email communications

In order to regularly provide you with information on our company and our offers, we can send you tailored emails regarding item services and products which may be of interest to you. The same applies to email communication in connection with our item blog or item webinars. You can sign up to receive these emails. For this purpose we use Eloqua, as described in more detail under Section 3.5. When your registration is confirmed, your IP address will be stored so that we can prove your registration in case of doubt. If you register for this email, we will collect the following additional data:

  • email; 
  • first name and surname;
  • your consent;
  • other details which you provide.

You can unsubscribe from our email at any time by writing to datenschutz@item24.com, or by clicking a corresponding ‘unsubscribe’ link.

We send you this email on the basis of your explicit consent according to Article 6(1)(a) GDPR.

Information which we store for direct marketing purposes, so that we can send you tailored emails and other product and service information, are stored for as long as you are interested in our marketing communication.

2.4 Website analysis and marketing

We use cookies to enable the use of certain functions. See Clause 3 for more details.

2.5 Online learning platform item Academy

2.5.1 Public area

The item Academy is your online learning platform for online training sessions, step-by-step instructions and teaching videos relating to engineering and the world of item products. If you wish to use the item Academy, you must first register on our website. The mandatory information to register on our website is as follows:

  • first name and surname; 
  • company name; 
  • street, postcode, city, country; 
  • telephone, company type and email address. 

If you successfully register with item, you can then use your account to log into the “item Academy”. You can manage, change and erase any information you want to in the protected customer area. 

As soon as you are logged in, other registered users will be shown that you are logged on in the item Academy, so that other users can contact you (“status display/Who’s online”). You can deactivate this function in your profile. Other data about you may be shown to other users if you activate the corresponding setting in your account. Your posts on the forum and in the chat can only be read by registered users and are anonymised as soon as you delete your item Academy account. 

We also process your learning progress data, by logging which training sessions you have started, which you have or have not started/completed. We will use this learning progress data to send you tailored further training material, product information, data, information, figures, plans, drawings, calculations, executive instructions, installation instructions, product descriptions, assembly instructions and other documents, to the email you provided when registering. We also reserve the right to contact you by phone for these purposes. If you do not wish to receive any further documents by email or information by phone, you can deselect this option in your user profile and/or inform us directly. 

The legal basis for data processing relating to the item Academy is Article 6(1) Sentence 1 (b) GDPR. 

We store information which we access in order to manage your online account or profile for as long as your account or profile is active. 

2.5.2 Internal area for item employees

After successful registration in the item Academy, item employees receive access to the public area, and also access to the internal employee area. If you do not want to register in the item Academy, we will give you access to the internal area. In the internal area of the item Academy, you can participate in employee training courses to further your professional expertise and skills or complete training courses that are necessary for work. The training courses are coordinated between you and your line manager (m/w/d). As your line manager (m/w/d) will want to know, and also needs to know in some cases, which training courses you have started, participated in and/or completed successfully, we log your learning progress data of the employee training courses in the internal area and we send this data to your line manager (m/w/d). The following information is transferred to your line manager (m/w/d):

- Registration status on the platform (have you registered?) 

- First name and surname

- Your email address 

- Course title of the started training course(s) in the internal area

- Learning progress in the training courses in the internal area (not started / started / 

  completed / passed / not passed)

- Time of the change of the learning progress in the internal area

In particular, the following are NOT transferred: the time it takes to process the individual training course(s), the number of attempts to pass the training course(s), the number of access attempts to the content of the training course(s), the time and duration of the access attempt to the content of the training course(s), the time of the last access attempt to the training course(s), number or the content of wrong answers.

We process your learning progress data in the internal employee area (training not started / started / completed / passed / not passed) so that you can coordinate further training courses and seminars with your line manager and your line manager (m/w/d) can see whether and/or where you still need further training. In the case of training courses arranged by the company or necessary training courses (e.g. for statutory prescribed training courses), we process the learning progress data to verify completion of and, possibly, successful completion of the training courses. The same applies for training courses for which you receive a certificate or a performance record, if you pass them

The legal basis for processing your personal data within the internal employee area is § 26 BDSG in conjunction with Art. 88 GDPR.

We keep the transferred information and the analysis(es) of the training courses for the duration of your employment relationship. The data are deleted after the end of your employment relationship.

2.5.3 Internal area for item partner companies / customers

After successful registration in the item Academy, employees from item partner companies/item customers not only receive access to the public area, if the necessary requirements are met, they also receive access to the internal area for item partner companies / customers. If you do not want to register in the item Academy, we will give you access to the internal area for partner companies via our partner companies / customers. Our partner companies can then give you this access. In the internal area of the item Academy, you can participate in training courses to further your professional expertise and skills or complete training courses that are necessary for work. The training courses are coordinated between you and your employer. As your employer will want to know, and also needs to know in some cases, which training courses you have started, participated in and/or completed successfully, we log your learning progress data of the training courses in the internal area for item partner companies / customers and we send this data to your employer. The following information is transferred to your employer:

- Registration status on the platform (have you registered?) 

- First name and surname

- Your email address 

- Course title of the started training course(s) in the internal area

- Learning progress in the training courses in the internal area (not started / started / 

  completed / passed / not passed)

- Time of the change of the learning progress in the internal area

In particular, the following are NOT transferred: the time it takes to process the individual training course(s), the number of attempts to pass the training course(s), the number of access attempts to the content of the training course(s), the time and duration of the access attempt to the content of the training course(s), the time of the last access attempt to the training course(s), number or the content of wrong answers.

We also process your learning progress data in the internal employee in the internal area for item partner companies / customers (training not started / started / completed / passed / not passed) so that you can make recommendations to your employer about which further training courses are suitable for you, and your line manager can see whether and/or where you still need further training. In the case of training courses arranged by the company or necessary training courses (e.g. for statutory prescribed training courses), we process the learning progress data to verify completion of and, possibly, successful completion of the training courses. The same applies for training courses for which you receive a certificate or a performance record, if you pass them.

The legal basis for data processing relating to the item Academy is Article 6(1) Sentence 1 (b) GDPR.

We store information which we access in order to manage your online account or profile for as long as your account or profile is active. Your learning progress data from the training courses in the internal area are transferred to your employer after the end/completion of a course, and we then delete them.

2.6 AI product advisor “Al13”

 item offers logged-in users of its online platform access to “AI13”, an AI-powered product advisor currently in beta (available only in Germany), which generates product information and recommendations based on user interactions.


       Data processing in connection with AI13:

  • Usage analysis (Google Analytics 4): We track usage of AI13 (in particular open rates, click behaviour and user behaviour up to the point of ordering) via Google Analytics 4 using pseudonymous identifiers. The legal basis for setting or reading such information on your device is your consent in accordance with Article 25(1) of the TDDDG (German Telecommunications Digital Services Data Protection Act). The subsequent processing of data is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. For further details, refer to clause 3.2.
  • Conversation data: Conversations with AI13 are stored in pseudonymised form (randomly generated ID, no username) for the purposes of quality assurance and further development. There are no plans to re-identify individual users. The legal basis is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR (legitimate interest: improving and ensuring the quality of our digital services). The data is stored for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose of processing, and is then deleted. You have the right to object to the processing of your data in accordance with Article 21 of the GDPR.
  • User feedback: Users can rate AI13’s responses and provide free-text feedback. We process this data solely for the purpose of improving AI13 on the basis of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Feedback is stored pseudonymously for the period necessary to fulfil the purpose of processing.
  • Note on data entry: Please do not enter any personal data of third parties or any special categories of personal data within the meaning of Article 9 of the GDPR in AI13. Should such data nevertheless be included, we reserve the right to delete it immediately.

 

2.7 Other personal data which you provide, for example when you submit a query

Along with the aforementioned user data, item collects and processes personal data if you provide it to us, for example when you contact us by email. The following personal data is especially likely to be collected in this way:

  • first name, surname;
  • if applicable, (company) address data (street, house number, postcode, city);
  • email address;
  • content of your message to us;
  • position as well as company and
  • other company data, such as the name and address of the company (or customer).

Your data is only processed for the purposes of handling and processing your query. We process this data on the basis of Article 6(1)(b) GDPR or Article 6(1)(f) GDPR in order to process your query, regardless of whether it is linked to a contract concluded/initiated with us or not.

We will retain your information for as long as this is necessary to handle your issue. Recordings of routine queries are usually kept for six months. In some cases (for example, if the query relates to a contract concluded between us, or if it is necessary to seek legal advice in order to handle a complaint), it may be necessary to retain the recording of our communication for up to three years.

 

3. Cookies and similar technologies 

3.1 General information about cookies

We use cookies on our websites in order to make our website attractive to visit, to allow certain functions to be used, and to statistically record the use of our website. Cookies are small text files which your browser creates automatically, and which are stored on your end device (laptop, tablet, smartphone or similar) when you visit our site. Cookies do not damage your end device, and do not contain any viruses, trojans or other malware. The cookie stores information generated in connection with the specific end device used. This does not, however, give us direct access to your identity. Most cookies we use are deleted at the end of your browser session (session cookies). We can use these, for example, to display your basket across different sites, so you can see how many articles are currently in your basket, and how high your current purchase value is. Other cookies remain on your computer and allow us to recognise your computer on your next visit (so-called permanent or cross-session cookies). These cookies are designed to make our services more user-friendly, effective and secure. These files allow, for example, information specially tailored to your interests to be displayed to you on the site.

Of course, you can set up your browser in such a way that it does not deposit cookies on your end device. The help function in the menu bar of most web browsers will explain to you how you can prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how you can let your browser know when you receive a new cookie, and how you can erase all the cookies you have already received, and block all future ones.

To do so, follow the procedure below:

In Internet Explorer:

1. Select “Internet options” from the “Tools” menu.

2. Click on the “Privacy” tab.

3. You can now configure the security settings for the website. Here you can configure whether and which cookies are accepted or rejected.

4. Click “OK” to confirm your settings.

In Firefox:

1. Select “Settings” from the “Tools” menu.

2. Click on “Privacy”.

3. Select “Create according to custom settings” from the drop-down menu.

4. You can now configure whether cookies should be accepted and how long you wish to retain these cookies, and add exceptions as to which websites you always or never want to allow cookies on.

5. Click “OK” to confirm your settings.

In Google Chrome:

1. Click the Chrome menu in the browser toolbar.

2. Now select “Settings”.

3. Click on “Show advanced settings”.

4. Under “Privacy”, click on “Content settings”.

5. Under “Cookies”, you can configure the following cookie settings:

  • Erase cookies;
  • Block cookies as standard;
  • Erase cookies and website data as standard after quitting the browser;
  • Allow exceptions for cookies from particular websites or domains.

In Safari (Mac):

1. Click on the gear wheel in the menu bar in the upper-right corner to bring up settings, then click on “Settings”.

2. Click on the “Privacy” tab.

3. Under “Cookies”, you can configure the following cookie settings:

  • Prevent cross-website tracking;
  • Block all cookies.

4. To delete stored cookies and data, select “Manage website data”, then select one or more websites and click “Remove” or “Remove all”.

5. To see which websites have stored cookies or data: Select “Manage website data”.

However, we wish to point out that without cookies you may not be able to use all of the website’s functions in full.

We use cookies in connection with the following functions:

 

3.2 GA4

We use Google Analytics, provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, to measure and analyse the use of our website on the basis of a pseudonymous user identification number. This identification number does not contain any personally identifiable information, such as names or email addresses. It is used to link analytical data to a specific device in order to identify which content users have accessed during one or more sessions, which search terms they have used, whether they have revisited that content, or how they have interacted with our website. We also store the time and duration of use, as well as the sources from which users access our website and technical details about their devices and browsers.

In this process, pseudonymous user profiles are created (using a technique known as “IP masking”) based on information gathered from the use of various devices, and cookies may be used for this purpose. Google Analytics does not log or store individual IP addresses for users in the EU. However, Analytics provides rough geographical location data by deriving the following metadata from IP addresses: city (and the derived latitude and longitude of the city), continent, country, region, subcontinent (and ID-based equivalents). In the case of EU data traffic, IP address data is used solely for the purpose of deriving geolocation data, after which it is deleted immediately. They are not logged, are not accessible and are not used for any other purposes. When Google Analytics collects data, all IP queries are processed on EU-based servers before the traffic is forwarded to Analytics servers for processing.

The data processing described above is carried out on the basis of your consent in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR (consent). You can withdraw your consent to the collection of data by going to the “Cookie settings” section in our consent management tool and deselecting the “Cookies for marketing purposes” category.

Further information can be found in the third-party provider’s privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) and here (https://business.safety.google/adsservices/ (Types of processing and data processed)).

 

3.3 Google Consent Mode v2

Our website uses Google Consent Mode, a service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, to ensure compliance with data protection regulations and cookie consent requirements. Google Consent Mode enables us to take our users’ consent settings into account, particularly in relation to the use of Google products such as Google Analytics.

Google Consent Mode works by collecting information about whether you have consented to the use of cookies and other tracking technologies on our website. Based on this information, Google Analytics will decide whether or not to collect and send data from your current session.

If you do not consent to the processing of your data, only aggregated data will be collected and processed. This means that data cannot be linked to individual users, so no user profile is created for you. You can also simply consent to the collection of statistical data. No personal data is processed in this process and, consequently, it is not used for advertising or to measure the success of advertising campaigns.

 

3.4 Google Remarketing

Our website uses Google Remarketing features. This service is provided by Google. We use this function to display interest-related, personalised advertising on the websites of third parties which also participate in the Google advertising network.

To facilitate this advertising service, Google stores a cookie containing a sequence of numbers on your end device during your visit to our website via your internet browser. This cookie registers both your visit and your use of our website. If you then visit the website of a third party which also uses the Google advertising network, ads will appear where possible which relate to our website and/or to the range we offer on it. According to information provided by Google, it does not combine the data collected as part of Google Remarketing with any personal data of yours which may be stored by Google (for example, because you have registered for a Google service). According to Google, Remarketing uses pseudonymisation.

The legal basis for this is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in analysing the use of our website, in order to display personalised advertising to you, and to ensure the economic operation of our website.

Google offers a browser plug-in for the most common internet browsers for long-term deactivation of this function at https://www.google.com/settings/ads/plugin.

Using so-called cross-device marketing, Google may be able to track your user behaviour across several end devices, such that you are where possible shown interest-related, personalised advertising even when you change end device. This requires, however, that you have a Google account, and that you have consented to your browsing history being linked to your Google account.

Google offers further information on Google Remarketing at https://www.google.com/privacy/ads/.

Users’ personal data is automatically erased or anonymised after 24 months. Data which has reached the end of its retention period is automatically deleted once a month. 

 

3.5 Google Ads Conversion Tracking

This website uses Google AdWords, and specifically the “conversion tracking” function. AdWords is an online advertising program from Google.  If you click on adverts placed by Google, a cookie is placed on your end device for conversion tracking. The information which is collected using conversion cookies serves to create conversion statistics for us as a Google Ads customer, for example to record sales figures and other conversions which can be traced back to you clicking on an ad displayed by Google. These cookies expire after 30 days, do not include any personal data and cannot be used to identify you personally.

The legal basis for this processing of data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). We have a legitimate interest in showing you personalised advertising, and in analysing the use of our website.

You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser software; however, please note that if you do so, you may not be able to use all the functions of this website to their full extent. In addition, you can disable interest-based adverts on Google and interest-based Google adverts on the web (within the Google Display Network) in your browser by visiting  http://www.google.de/settings/ads or by disabling them at  http://www.aboutads.info/choices/. For more information about your privacy settings and Google’s privacy policy, please visit: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/?fg=1.

3.6 Eloqua

On our website, we use the analysis service Eloqua from Oracle Corporation, 100 Oracle Pkwy, Redwood City, CA 94065, USA (“Eloqua”). Eloqua allows us to analyse the use of our website.  Emails sent using Eloqua use tracking technologies. This allows us to track your email reading behaviour and determine, for example, whether the emails are opened, and which links you click. Eloqua uses cookies to provide this service.  These cookies collect information on your user behaviour on our website. The information collected by our website’s cookie is only visible to us and is not shared with either Oracle or other users of the Eloqua system. 

The data processing described above takes place based on our overriding interest in the optimum marketing of our online offerings pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in showing you personalised advertising and analysing how our website and emails are used.

Users’ personal data is automatically erased or anonymised after 24 months. 

You can object to data collection at any time with effect for the future using the following link: www.oracle.com/marketingcloud/opt-status.html.

You can find further information on data protection at Eloqua at: https://www.oracle.com/legal/privacy/privacy-policy.html.

 

3.7 Meta Pixel

This website uses the “Facebook Pixel” provided by Meta Platforms, Inc., 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA (“Meta”). If explicit consent is given, this allows the behaviour of users to be tracked after they have viewed or clicked on a Facebook advert. This procedure serves to evaluate Taboola ads for statistical and market research purposes, and may contribute to optimising future advertising measures.

The data we collect is anonymous to us and therefore does not allow us to identify individual users. However, the data is stored and processed by Meta, meaning it can be linked to the relevant user profile and Meta may use the data for its own advertising purposes, in accordance with the Facebook Data Use Policy (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/). This enables Meta and its partners to display advertisements both on and off Facebook. A cookie may also be stored on your computer for these purposes.

These processing operations are carried out only where explicit consent has been given in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You can withdraw your consent to the collection of data by going to the “Cookie settings” section in our consent management tool and deselecting the “Cookies for marketing purposes” category.

 

3.8 Meta Fan Pages

We are jointly responsible with Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland, for the collection (but not the further processing) of data relating to visitors to our Facebook page (known as a “fan page”). This data includes information about the types of content users view or interact with, or the actions they take (see “Things you and others do and provide” in the Facebook Data Policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/), as well as information about the devices used by users (e.g. IP addresses, operating system, browser type, language settings, cookie data; see “Device information” in the Facebook Data Policy: www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/). 

As explained in the Facebook Data Policy under “How do we use this information?”, Facebook also collects and uses information to provide analytics services, known as “Page Insights”, to page administrators, so that they can gain insights into how people interact with their pages and the content associated with them. We have entered into a specific agreement with Facebook (“Information on Page Insights”, https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum), which specifically sets out the security measures Facebook must observe and in which Facebook has agreed to comply with data subjects’ rights (i.e. users can, for example, submit requests for information or deletion directly to Facebook). Users’ rights (in particular, the right to the disclosure of information about you, its erasure, objection to its processing and to lodge a complaint with the relevant supervisory authority) are not restricted by the agreements with Facebook. Further information can be found in the “Information on Page Insights” (https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data). Joint responsibility is limited to the collection and transfer of data to Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, a company based in the EU. Further processing of the data is the sole responsibility of Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, in particular with regard to the transfer of the data to the parent company, Meta Platforms, Inc., in the USA;

The data processing described above takes place based on our overriding interest in the optimum marketing of our online offerings pursuant to Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in processing your data for these purposes 

For further information, please refer to the third-party provider’s privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/.

3.9 LinkedIn

Our website uses the conversion tool “LinkedIn Insight Tag” from LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (“LinkedIn”).  This tool sets a cookie in your web browser, which enables the collection of data including the following: IP address, device and browser properties, and page events (e.g. page views). This data is encrypted and anonymised within seven days, and the anonymised data is erased within 90 days.  LinkedIn does not share any personal data with item. Rather, it offers anonymised reports on website target groups and the ad service.  LinkedIn also uses the “insight tag” to offer the option of retargeting. Using this service, item can show targeted advertising outside of its website, without identifying you as a website visitor.  You can find further information on data protection at LinkedIn in the LinkedIn privacy notice.

The legal basis for this processing of data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). We have a legitimate interest in showing you personalised advertising, and in analysing the use of our website.

LinkedIn members can manage the use of their personal data for advertising purposes in their account settings.  In order to deactivate the insight tag on the LinkedIn website (“opt-out”), click here.

 

3.10 Taboola

We use a visitor pixel and cookies from Taboola Inc., 28 West 23rd St., 5th fl., New York, NY 10010, USA (“Taboola”), to measure conversions. This allows us to track the behaviour of website users after they are forwarded to the website of the provider by clicking on a Taboola advert. This procedure serves to evaluate Taboola ads for statistical and market research purposes, and may contribute to optimising future advertising measures. The data collected is anonymous to us, so it does not allow us to trace users’ identities. 

You can object to tracking by Taboola at any time; to do this, click on the “Reject” field (opt-out) under Taboola’s privacy policy, which you can view at https://www.taboola.com/privacy-policy. Here, you can also find further information on data protection at Taboola Inc. The opt-out only applies to the device you are using and expires when you delete your cookies. 

The legal basis for this processing of data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). We have a legitimate interest in showing you personalised advertising, and in analysing the use of our website.

The transferred data is erased within three months.

 

 3.11 Outbrain

In some areas of our website, we use technology from the provider Outbrain UK Ltd., Outbrain UK Limited, 5 New Bridge Street, London, EC4V 6JAUK (“Outbrain”). With the help of a “widget”, users are referred to other content which may also be of interest to them, both on our website and on third-party websites. The content shown in the Outbrain widget is automatically managed and delivered by Outbrain on both a content-related and technical level.

Most of the integrated reading recommendations under an article are determined on the basis of the content which the user has previously read. In order to display this interest-related further content, Outbrain uses cookies which are stored on the user’s end device/in the user’s browser. Outbrain collects the device source, the browser type, and the user’s IP address, with the last eight digits are deleted for anonymisation purposes. Outbrain issues a “Universally Unique Identifier” (UUID), which can identify the end user on a device-related basis when they visit a website where the Outbrain widget is implemented. Outbrain creates user profiles which aggregate user interactions (e.g. page views and clicks) by a browser or end device, in order to derive the preferences associated with the UUID.

The legal basis for this processing of data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). We have a legitimate interest in showing you integrated reading recommendations, and in analysing the use of our website. 

You may object to tracking for the purpose of showing you interest-based recommendations by Outbrain at any time; to do this, click on the field “Reject” (opt-out) under Outbrain’s privacy policy, which you can view at http://www.outbrain.com/legal/privacy. Here, you can also get further information on data protection at Outbrain. The opt-out only applies to the device you are using and expires when you delete your cookies.

Users’ personal data is automatically erased or anonymised after 13 months. 

 

3.12 Microsoft Bing Ads

Our website uses Bing Ads, a service provided by Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, USA (“Microsoft”). This service allows us to track your activities on our website if you reached our website via Bing Ads. If this is the case, a cookie will be placed on your computer. The Bing UET Tag, which is integrated on our website, allows us to store pseudonymous information regarding the use of our website. This includes how long you spend on our website, which areas of the website you visit and via which ads you reached our website. 

The information collected is transferred to Microsoft servers in the USA.  You can find further information on data protection at Microsoft and Bing in Microsoft’s privacy statement (https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-GB/privacystatement). 

You can use the specific tools provided by Microsoft to ensure that Bing Ads cannot execute on your computer: https://account.microsoft.com/privacy/ad-settings.

The legal basis for this processing of data is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest). We have a legitimate interest in showing you personalised advertising, and in analysing the use of our website.

Microsoft stores this data for 180 days.

 

3.13 YouTube videos

item has integrated YouTube components on this website. YouTube is an internet video portal which allows video publishers to post videos for free, and allows other users to view, rate and comment on these videos for free. YouTube allows the publication of all kinds of videos, so everything from entire films and TV programmes, to music videos, trailers or videos produced by users themselves can be viewed on its internet portal.

The operator of the site is YouTube, LLC, 901 Cherry Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066, USA (“YouTube”). YouTube is a subsidiary of Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA.

Every time one of the individual pages of this website is visited which is operated by item and on which a YouTube component (YouTube video) has been integrated, the internet browser on the data subject’s IT system is automatically induced to download a presentation of the corresponding YouTube components from YouTube. You can view further information on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/about/. In the course of this technical procedure, YouTube and Google receive knowledge of which specific pages of our website the data subject visits.

If the data subject is logged into YouTube at the same time, YouTube registers it when they visit a page containing a YouTube video which specific page the data subject is visiting. This information is collected by YouTube and Google, and linked to the data subject’s YouTube account.

YouTube and Google always receive information via the YouTube components when the data subject visits our website, if the data subject is logged into YouTube when they visit our website; this happens regardless of whether the data subject clicks on a YouTube video or not. If the data subject does not want this information to be transferred to YouTube and Google, they can prevent the transfer by logging out of YouTube before visiting our website.

YouTube’s data protection provisions, which you can view at https://policies.google.com/privacy, give information about the collection, processing and use of personal data by YouTube and Google.

 

3.14 Google Maps

We incorporate the maps service “Google Maps”, provided by Google.  The processed data is especially likely to include users’ IP addresses and location data, which cannot, however, be collected without their consent (generally in the course of setting up their mobile devices).  You can view Google’s privacy policy, which provides further information about Google Maps, here: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/.

You can object to data collection with effect for the future at any time by using Google Maps’ deactivation add-on for browser at https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

 3.15 Instana

On our website, we use the End User Monitoring (EUM) software of Instana, Inc, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606. Riverside Plaza, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606 (hereinafter referred to as “Instana”).

With Instana we can observe the condition of the engineering tool operated on our website as well as detect technical faults in order to remedy these as soon as possible. In addition, with Instana we can evaluate the use of the engineering tool. For example, we can see how many enquiries we receive at any given time. These details help us to improve the engineering tool for you. Finally, we can determine any customer-specific problems by using the engineering tool and work on finding a solution.

Instana functions through a JavaScript, which is carried out by your browser. This JavaScript collects information for the aforementioned purposes and transmits this data in an anonymised form to Instana, Inc. your IP address is transmitted in an anonymised form. In addition, the date and time of the request, the time zone difference from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the content of the request (specific page), the access status/HTTP status code, the amount of data transferred in each instance, the website from which the request originates, the browser, the operating system and its interface, and the language and version of the browser software are transmitted to Instana, Inc. Instana, Inc. generally deletes your information after seven days, but no later than one year. You can prevent the collection and transmission of personal data and the use of this information by Instana, Inc. by deactivating JavaScript in your browser or by installing a tool such as “NoScript”. However, we would like to point out that in this case you may, if applicable, not be able to use the functions of the engineering tool in full.

A component of Instana is a function of Cloudflare, Inc., 101 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94107 (hereinafter referred to as “Cloudflare”). Cloudflare, Inc. is a subcontractor of Instana, Inc. For this purpose, Cloudflare uses the cookie (__cfuid). A cookie is a small text file which is stored on your computer. Cloudflare initially checks whether the address of the user stems from a so-called botnet (group of automated malware). In this case Cloudflare would prevent the access to the engineering tool. Furthermore, Cloudflare enables us to reduce the loading times for the engineering tool, regardless of your location. Your IP address is stored on one of the servers of Cloudflare, Inc. for 24 hours. You can prevent the storage of the cookie (__cfuid) by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser software; however, please note that if you do so, you may not be able to use the full functionality of the engineering tool.

The legal basis for the use of Instana, including Cloudflare is Article 6(1) Sentence 1 (f) GDPR, whereby our legitimate interests are derived from the technical description cited above.

For more information about Instana’s privacy policy, please visit: https://www.instana.com/privacy-policy/.

For more information about Cloudflare’s privacy policy, please visit: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

 

3.16 Grafana Faro

On our website, we use the Real End User Monitoring (EUM) software “Grafana Faro” provided by Raintank Inc., trading as Grafana Labs, 165 Broadway, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10006, United States (hereinafter referred to as “Grafana”).

Grafana Faro enables us to monitor the status of the engineering tool and online shop hosted on our website, as well as to identify technical faults so that we can resolve them as quickly as possible. In addition, we can use Grafana Faro to analyse usage of the engineering tool and the online shop. For example, we can see how many enquiries we receive at any given time. This information helps us to improve the engineering tool and the online shop for you. Finally, we can identify any customer-specific issues that may arise when using the engineering tool and the online shop, and work towards a solution.

Grafana Faro works via JavaScript, which is executed by your browser. This JavaScript collects information for the purposes mentioned above and transmits this data to Grafana in anonymised form. The data has been anonymised in such a way that it can no longer be attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person, or can only be attributed to such a person at a disproportionate cost in terms of time, expense and effort.

The following data is processed:

•IP address (last 8 digits redacted/hidden)

•User Agent

•User identifier (an internal ID or email address associated with the sender (item))

•Timing of user actions

•Tracking data relating to (1) requested digital resources and (2) interactions

•Geographical information based on the IP address (country, more precise location)

•Language preference / language used in the browser/device

•Type of web browser used 

•Information about the device used

•Operating system

•Redirect URLs

•Device name

The software is hosted on the data controller’s server, and the data is stored exclusively on that server.

 

Personal data will be retained for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose of processing. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected. This is generally after seven days, but no later than one year. You can prevent the collection and transmission of personal data and the use of this information by Grafana by deactivating JavaScript in your browser or by installing a tool such as “NoScript”. Please note, however, that in this case you may not be able to make full use of the features of the engineering tool and the online shop. 

The legal basis for the use of Grafana Faro is Article 6(1) Sentence 1 (f) GDPR, whereby our legitimate interests arise from the technical descriptions set out above, with a view to making our online service more secure.

For further information about Grafana’s privacy policy, please visit:

https://grafana.com/legal/privacy-policy/

For more information about Cloudflare’s privacy policy, please visit: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/

Grafana Faro uses features provided by CloudFlare, Inc., 665 3rd St. #200, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. (hereinafter referred to as “Cloudflare”). 

CloudFlare offers a globally distributed content delivery network with DNS. Technically speaking, the transfer of information between your browser and our website is routed via the CloudFlare network. CloudFlare is, therefore, able to analyse the data traffic between users and our websites in order, for example, to detect and fend off attacks on our services. In addition, CloudFlare may store cookies on your computer for optimisation and analysis purposes.

You can configure your browser to notify you when cookies are set, to allow cookies only on a case-by-case basis, to block cookies in specific cases or generally, and to enable the automatic deletion of cookies when you close your browser. If you disable cookies, the functionality of this website may be limited.

Cloudflare collects statistical data about visits to this website. Access data includes: the name of the webpage accessed, the file, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, confirmation of successful access, the browser type and version, the user’s operating system, the referrer URL (the previously visited page), the IP address and the requesting provider. Cloudflare uses the log data for statistical analysis for the purposes of operating, securing and optimising the service.

The legal basis for the use of Cloudflare is Article 6(1) Sentence 1 (f) GDPR, whereby our legitimate interests arise from the technical descriptions set out above, which are aimed at making our online services more secure. Personal data will be retained for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose of processing. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected.

Cloudflare is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. This constitutes a decision on adequacy pursuant to Article 45 of the GDPR, meaning that personal data may be transferred even without further safeguards or additional measures.

For more information about CloudFlare, please visit: https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/.

 

3.17 Teads Pixel

This website uses Teads Universal Pixel, provided by Teads Schweiz GmbH, Ausstellungsstraße 50, 1020 Vienna, to track user behaviour. The Teads pixel installed on our website sends a signal every time a user visits our website. Teads can then confirm whether or not it already recognises the user. If the user is already known to Teads, they will be included in or excluded from our campaign. If the user is not known to Teads, Teads takes no action, as the pixel only tracks users who already have the Teads cookie on their device and have, therefore, consented to being tracked. The sole purpose of this pixel is to check whether the Teads cookie has already been installed on the user’s device. If this is the case, the Teads cookie will then identify the Teads user who has visited our website and include or exclude them from our campaign.

The Teads pixel provides access to the following information and technical characteristics of the device: current URL, Auctid parameter (an optional parameter sent by Teads via the destination URL), device, browser and operating system. No personal data is processed. The pixel is not used to collect or share personal data. Teads distributes the True Visits campaign via its own cookie pool and acts as the data controller for the provision of the Teads True Visits service. Cookies are placed on websites within the Teads Publisher Network following consent; Teads can provide evidence of this consent at any time. The data is only analysed if such a cookie is already present on the user’s device before they visit the website. For further information on Teads’ data protection policy, please visit the following link: https://www.teads.com/privacy-policy/.

The legal basis for this data processing is Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR (consent). You can withdraw your consent to Teads collecting data by going to “Cookie Settings” in our consent management tool and deselecting the ‘Cookies for marketing purposes’ category.

 

3.18 Sales Viewer

We have integrated SalesViewer into our website. SalesViewer is a service provided by SalesViewer GmbH, Bongardstraße 29, 44787 Bochum, Germany. 

Among other things, SalesViewer shows us which companies have visited our website, tracks the history of their visit – including all the pages they have visited and viewed – and records how long they spent on the site. SalesViewer processes data about companies, such as company name, telephone number, address, website, industry, company profile, turnover and key contacts on LinkedIn.

To this end, JavaScript-based code is used to collect company-related data and track its usage. The data collected using this technology is encrypted using a one-way function that cannot be reversed (known as “hashing”). The data is immediately pseudonymised and is not used to personally identify visitors to this website.

The legal basis for this data processing is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR (legitimate interests). We have a legitimate interest in processing your data for marketing, market research and optimisation purposes.

You may object to the collection and storage of your data at any time with future effect by clicking on this link https://www.salesviewer.com/opt-out to prevent SalesViewer from collecting data on this website in future. This will place an opt-out cookie for this website on your device. If you clear your cookies in this browser, you will need to click this link again.

Data stored within SalesViewer will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required for the purpose for which it was collected and there are no legal retention obligations preventing its deletion. For further information, please see the SalesViewer privacy policy: https://www.salesviewer.com/datenschutz.

 

3.19 Right to object/opt-out

Along with the deactivation methods already described, you can stop the technologies described on a very general level by using a corresponding cookie configuration in your browser.  You also have the option of deactivating preference-based advertising in the preference manager, which you can find here.

 

 

4. Transfer and disclosure of personal data

item may transfer your personal data to the following recipients:

  • other item companies or other third parties, e.g. sales partners or suppliers, if this is necessary in providing and operating the item range and services, or initiating, executing or processing a business relationship,
  • IT service providers who process data as part of providing their service (e.g. service providers for maintenance activities), and/or
  • third parties, if this is necessary in order to comply with applicable law or to assert, exercise or defend from legal actions (e.g. in connection with arbitration or judicial proceedings before regular courts, courts of arbitration, authorities or legal advisers).

The recipients may have their registered office in countries whose data protection laws do not provide a level of data protection consonant with the country where you are resident.

In such a case, item shall take measures to ensure suitable and appropriate guarantees to protect personal data in another way.

Personal data will only be transferred to item companies and external recipients in such countries if they (i) have agreed EU standard contractual clauses with item, or (ii) (for recipients with their registered office in the USA) are certified under the EU/US Privacy Shield.

 

5. How long we retain your personal data

We store your personal data for as long as this is appropriate and necessary in order to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected (consent which you give us in this way shall remain valid even after our business relationship with you has ended), and in order to comply with applicable law. 

Specific information in this Privacy Policy or statutory regulations on the retention and deletion of personal data, especially those which we must retain for tax reasons, shall remain unaffected.

 

6. Your rights (Articles 15–18, 20–21 of the GDPR)

You can request at any time that we provide you with a copy of your personal data. 

You are entitled to request a copy from us of the personal data transferred by you which we retain for the purpose of the contract concluded with us or based on your consent, in a structured, common and machine-readable format, such that you can reuse it or forward it to other organisations.

If you think that the personal data we are storing on you is incorrect or incomplete, you can request that we correct or complete it. 

You may also have the right to object to the processing of your data, and you may request that we restrict our use of your data and erase it. 

If we ask you for your consent to use your data for a particular purpose, you are always free to withdraw your consent. We will also tell you how to do this. 

There are, however, several exceptions to these rights. For example, we cannot erase your data if we are legally obliged to store it, or if we retain it because we have concluded a contract with you. Information on and access to your data may also be refused if providing information would mean disclosing another person’s personal information, or if we are unable to disclose this information for legal reasons.

If you wish to exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided in Clause 1. 

Should you have concerns regarding our handling of your personal data, you also have the right to complain to the responsible data protection authority (the State Officer for Data Protection and Freedom of Information for North Rhine-Westphalia).  You can find further details on this on their website at https://www.ldi.nrw.de/.

 7. Data security

Our website is SSL-encrypted. item and its computer centre service providers implement all the legally required technical and organisational measures to protect your data according to the current general state of technology, and especially to protect it from loss, falsification or perusal by unauthorised parties. 

In the event that you wish to contact us by email, please note that the confidentiality of the information transferred cannot be guaranteed. As a basic principle, the content of emails may be subject to spying by unauthorised third parties in transit. 

 

8. Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. If you follow a link to one of these websites, please bear in mind that we cannot take any responsibility or provide any guarantee for third-party content or data protection provisions, and do not have any influence on these. Please inform yourself of the applicable data protection provisions before transferring personal data to these websites.

 

9. Changes to the Privacy Policy 

item reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time without notifying users (this may be necessary due to current developments, such as an amendment to data protection law or a possible revision of our website). item will update the date at the top of the first page accordingly. Please inform yourself of the Privacy Policy applicable at the time every time you use our website. In some cases, item may also inform you of particular data processing activities or important changes to this Privacy Policy, where this is prescribed by law.

Cookie Manager

 

Last updated: May 2026