Privacy Statement

Updated May 17 2025

In accordance with the statutory provisions of data protection law (in particular the new version of the German Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we inform you below about the nature, scope, and purpose of the processing of personal data by our company. This privacy policy also applies to our websites and social media profiles. For the definition of terms such as "personal data" or "processing," please refer to Art. 4 GDPR.

Name and contact details of the controller
Our controller (hereinafter "controller") within the meaning of Art. 4 (7) GDPR is:

ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH
Otto-Eißfeldt-Straße 8
06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
Managing Director: Dr. Michael Hahn
Commercial Register No.: HRB 206379
Registration Court: Stendal District Court
Fax: +49 (0) 345 27 95 70 - 99
Email address: info@ech.de

Data Protection Officer
Ms. Sylvia Furchert
Otto-Eißfeldt-Straße 8
06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
Email address: info@ech.de
Fax: +49 (0) 345 27 95 70 - 99

Data Types, Purposes of Processing, and Categories of Data Subjects
Below, we inform you about the type, scope, and purpose of the collection, processing, and use of personal data.

Integration of External Content from a Central Subdomain (data.echscientific.com)

Our websites load certain content (such as stylesheets, scripts, images, or fonts) from a central domain operated by us. This setup allows for efficient delivery and maintenance of shared website elements across multiple online platforms within our organization.

When these resources are requested, your IP address is technically transmitted to the server of the central domain to enable proper display of the website. The central domain is fully operated by us and does not process any personal data beyond what is technically necessary. No user behavior is tracked, and no personal data is stored.

The servers hosting the central domain are located within the European Union. No data is shared with third parties, and no data is transferred to countries outside the EU.

Präambel

ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH, ECH Scientific Ltd., and ECH America Inc. are part of the ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH corporate group and are responsible for the online content provided on ech.de, echscientific.com, echamerica.com, sulfimaxgx.com, titramaxvt.com, h2s-analysis.com, and their associated subdomains (e.g., data.echscientific.com, store.echscientific.com, service.echscientific.com), as well as on the ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH social media channels.

Personal data is deleted as soon as possible and is never used or shared for advertising purposes without your consent.

1. Types of data we process
Usage data (access times, websites visited, etc.), inventory data (name, address, etc.), contact data (telephone number, email, fax, etc.), content data (text entries, videos, photos, etc.), communication data (IP address, etc.),

2. Purposes of processing according to Art. 13 (1) (c) GDPR
Evidence purposes / preservation of evidence, technically and economically optimizing the website, enabling easy access to the website, fulfilling statutory retention periods, optimizing and statistically evaluating our services, improving the user experience, making the website user-friendly, compiling statistics, determining the likelihood of texts being copied, avoiding SPAM and misuse, handling an application process, customer service and ustomer care, handling contact requests, providing websites with functions and content, security measures, uninterrupted, secure operation of our website,

3. Categories of data subjects pursuant to Art. 13 (1) (e) GDPR:
visitors/users of the website, customers, suppliers, interested parties, applicants, employees, employees of customers or suppliers,

The data subjects are collectively referred to as “users”.

Legal basis for the processing of personal data

Below we inform you about the legal basis for the processing of personal data:

If we have obtained your consent to process personal data, Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR is the legal basis.
If processing is necessary to fulfill a contract or to carry out pre-contractual measures taken at your request, Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR is the legal basis.
If processing is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation to which we are subject (e.g. statutory retention periods), Art. 6 (1) (c) GDPR is the legal basis.
If processing is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person, the legal basis is Article 6 (1) (d) GDPR.
If processing is necessary to protect our legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of a third party and your interests or fundamental rights and freedoms do not override them, Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR shall be the legal basis.

Transfer of personal data to third parties and processors

We generally do not share data with third parties without your consent. Should this be the case,
the sharing will be based on the aforementioned legal grounds, e.g., when sharing data with online payment providers for contract fulfillment or due to a court order or a legal obligation to disclose data for the purposes of
criminal prosecution, threat prevention, or the enforcement of intellectual property rights. We also use processors (external service providers, e.g., for web hosting of our websites and databases) to process your data. If data is shared with processors as part of a data processing agreement , this always occurs in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. We carefully select our processors, monitor them regularly, and have been granted the right to issue instructions regarding the data. In addition, the processors must have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures and comply with the data protection regulations in accordance with the new version of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the GDPR.

Data transfer to third countries

The adoption of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) created a uniform basis for data protection in Europe. Your data will therefore primarily be processed by companies to which the GDPR applies. Should processing take place through third-party services outside the European Union or the European Economic Area, these services must meet the specific requirements of Articles 44 et seq. of the GDPR. This means that processing is carried out on the basis of special guarantees, such as the official recognition by the EU Commission of a level of data protection equivalent to that of the EU or compliance with officially recognized special contractual obligations, the so-called "standard contractual clauses." To the extent that we obtain your express consent to the transfer of data to the USA due to the ineffectiveness of the so-called "Privacy Shield" in accordance with Article 49 (1) (a) GDPR , we would like to point out the risk of secret access by US authorities and the use of the data for surveillance purposes, possibly without legal remedies for EU citizens.

Deletion of data and storage period

Unless expressly stated in this privacy policy, your personal data will be deleted or blocked as soon as
you revoke your consent to processing, or the purpose for storage no longer applies, or the data is
no longer required for that purpose, unless further storage is necessary for evidentiary purposes or if statutory
retention periods conflict with this. This includes, for example, commercial retention obligations for business letters pursuant to Section 257 (1) of the German Commercial Code (HGB) (6 years) and tax retention obligations for receipts pursuant to Section 147 (1) of the German Fiscal Code (AO) (10 years). When the prescribed retention period expires, your data will be blocked or deleted unless storage is still required to conclude or fulfill a contract.

Existence of automated decision-making

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling.

Provision of our website and creation of log files

1. If you use our website for informational purposes only (i.e., without registering or otherwise submitting information), we only collect the personal data that your browser transmits to our server. If you wish to view our website, we collect the following data:

• IP address;
• Internet service provider of the user;
• Date and time of retrieval;
• Browser type;
• Language and browser version;
• Content of the retrieval;
• Time zone;
• Access status/HTTP status code;
• Amount of data;
• Websites from which the request comes;
• Operating system.

This data will not be stored together with your other personal data .

2. This data serves the purpose of delivering our website to you in a user-friendly, functional and secure manner, with functions and content, as well as their optimization and statistical evaluation.

3. The legal basis for this is our legitimate interest in data processing pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, which also lies in the above purposes.

4. For security reasons, we store this data in server log files for a period of 90 days. After this period, the data is automatically deleted unless we need to retain it for evidentiary purposes in the event of attacks on the server infrastructure or other violations of law.

Cookies

1. We use so-called cookies when you visit our website. Cookies are small text files that your internet browser saves on your computer. When you visit our website again, these cookies provide information to automatically recognize you. Cookies also include so-called "user IDs," where user information is stored using pseudonymized profiles. When you visit our website, we will inform you about the use of cookies for the aforementioned purposes and how you can object to these cookies or prevent their storage ("opt-out") by means of a reference to our privacy policy.

The following types of cookies are distinguished:

Necessary, essential cookies: Essential cookies are cookies that are absolutely necessary for the operation of the website in order to save certain functions of the website such as logins, shopping cart or user inputs, e.g. regarding the language of the website.
Session cookies: Session cookies are required to recognize repeated use of an offer by the same user (e.g. if you have logged in to determine your login status). When you visit our site again, these cookies provide information to automatically recognize you. The information obtained in this way is used to optimize our offers and give you easier access to our site. When you close the browser or log out, the session cookies are deleted.

• Persistent cookies: These cookies remain stored even after the browser is closed. They are used to save the login, to measure reach and for marketing purposes. These are automatically deleted after a specified period of time, which can vary depending on the cookie . You can delete cookies at any time in the security settings of your browser .
Third-party cookies (especially from advertisers): You can configure your browser settings according to your preferences and, for example, refuse to accept third-party cookies or all cookies. However, we would like to point out that if you do this, you may not be able to use all the features of this website. For more information about these cookies, please refer to the respective third-party privacy policies.

2. Data categories: User data, cookies, user ID (including pages visited, device information,
access times and IP addresses).

3. Purposes of processing: The information obtained in this way serves the purpose of optimising our web offerings technically and economically and providing you with easier and secure access to our website.

4. Legal basis: If we process your personal data using cookies based on your consent ("opt-in"), then Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR is the legal basis. Otherwise, we have a legitimate interest in the effective functionality, improvement, and economical operation of the website, so in this case Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR is the legal basis.
Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR also applies if the Cookies are set to initiate a contract, e.g., for orders.

5. Storage period/deletion: The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for
which it was collected. If the data is collected to provide the website, this is the case when the respective session has ended. Otherwise, cookies are stored on your computer and transmitted from there to our site. Therefore, as a user, you have full control over the use of cookies. By changing the settings in your internet browser, you can deactivate or restrict the transmission of cookies. Cookies that have already been stored can
be deleted at any time. This can also happen automatically. If cookies are deactivated for our website, you
may no longer be able to use all of the website's functions to their full extent.
Here you can find information on deleting cookies by browser:

  Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647
  Safari: https://support.apple.com/de-at/guide/safari/sfri11471/mac
  Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-und-website-daten-in-firefox-loschen
  Microsoft Edge: https://support.microsoft.com/de-at/help/4027947/windows-delete-cookies

6. Objection and "Opt-Out": You can generally prevent cookies from being stored on your hard drive, regardless of consent or legal permission, by selecting "do not accept cookies" in your browser settings. However, this may result in a restriction of the functionality of our offerings. You can object to the use of third-party cookies for advertising purposes via a so-called "opt-out" on this American website ( https://optout.aboutads.info ) or this European website ( http://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/ ).

Contact via contact form / email / fax / post

1. When you contact us via contact form, fax, post or email, your details will be processed for the purpose of processing your contact request.

2. If you have given your consent, the legal basis for processing the data is Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. The legal basis for processing data transmitted as part of a contact request or email, letter or fax is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. The controller has a legitimate interest in processing and storing the data in order to be able to answer user inquiries, to preserve evidence for liability reasons and, if necessary, to comply with its statutory retention periods for business letters. If the aim of the contact is to conclude a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR.

3. We may store your information and contact request in our Customer Relationship Management System ("CRM System") or a similar system.

4. The data will be deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected.
For personal data from the contact form input mask and that sent by email, this is the case when the respective conversation with you has ended. The conversation is ended when it can be inferred from the circumstances that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified.
We store inquiries from users who have an account or contract with us for a period of two years after the contract has ended. In the case of statutory archiving obligations, deletion occurs after these expiration: end of the retention period under commercial law (6 years) and tax law (10 years).

5. You have the option to revoke your consent to the processing of personal data at any time,
in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. If you contact us by email, you can object to the storage of your personal data at any time.

Contact by phone

1. When you contact us by phone, your telephone number will be processed to process your contact request and its handling. It will be temporarily stored or displayed in the RAM/cache of your phone device/display. This storage is done for liability and security reasons, to provide evidence of the call, and for economic
reasons, to enable a return call. In the event of unauthorized advertising calls, we will block the phone number.

2. The legal basis for processing the telephone number is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. If the contact is aimed at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR.

3. The device cache stores calls for 90 days and gradually overwrites or deletes old data. When the device is disposed of, all data is deleted and the memory may be destroyed. Blocked phone numbers are reviewed annually to determine whether blocking is necessary.

4. You can prevent the phone number from being displayed by calling with a withheld phone number.

Google ReCAPTCHA

1. We have integrated the anti-spam function “reCAPTCHA” from “Google” ( provider: Google Ireland Limited, registration number: 368047, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland) on our website.

2. Data category and description of data processing: Usage data (e.g., website accessed, IP address). By using "reCAPTCHA" in our forms, we can determine whether the input was made by a machine (robot) or a human. When using this service, your IP address and any other data required for this purpose may be transferred to Google servers in the USA.

3. Purpose of processing: Prevention of spam and misuse as well as our economic interest in optimizing our website.

4. Legal basis: If you have given your consent to the processing of your personal data using "reCaptcha" by the third-party provider ("opt-in"), then Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR serves as the legal basis. The legal basis is also our
legitimate interest in data processing for the purposes stated above, in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

5. Data transfer/recipient category: Third-party providers in the USA.

6. Storage period: until the cookies are deleted by you as a user.

7. For more information about Google ReCAPTCHA, please visit https://www.google.com/recaptcha/
and Google's privacy Policy at: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Google Maps

1. We have integrated maps from “Google Maps” ( provider: Google Ireland Limited, registration number: 368047, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland) on our website.

2. Data category and description of data processing: Usage data (e.g. IP, location, page accessed). With Google Maps we can display the location of addresses and driving directions directly on our website in interactive maps and enable you to use this tool. When you access our website where Google Maps is integrated, a connection is established to Google's servers in the USA. Your IP and location may be transmitted to Google. Google also receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding page. This also happens without a Google user account. If you are logged into your Google account, Google can assign the above data to your account. If you do not want this to happen, you must log out of your Google account. Google creates user profiles from this data and uses this data for the purposes of advertising, market research or optimising its websites.

3. Purpose of processing: Provision of a user-friendly, economical and optimized website.

4. Legal basis: If you have given your consent to the processing of your personal data via "Google Maps" by the third-party provider ("opt-in"), then Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR serves as the legal basis. The legal basis is also our legitimate interest in data processing for the purposes set out above, in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

5. Data transfer/recipient category: Third-party providers in the USA.

6. Storage period: Cookies are stored for up to 6 months or until you delete them. Otherwise, as soon as they
are no longer required for the processing purposes.

7. Right to object and removal: You have the right to object to the creation of user profiles by Google . Please
contact Google directly via the privacy policy below. You can opt out of advertising cookies in your Google Account here: https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated.

8. You can find further information about the use of Google cookies and their advertising technologies, storage duration, anonymization, location data, functionality, and your rights in the Google Maps Terms of Use at https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/help/terms_maps.html and in the Google Advertising Privacy Policy at https://policies.google.com/technologies/ads. Google general privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.

Presence on social media

1. We maintain profiles and fan pages on social media. When you use and access our profile on the respective network, the respective privacy policy and terms of use of the respective network apply.

2. Data categories and description of data processing: Usage data, contact data, content data, inventory data. Furthermore, user data is generally processed within social networks for market research and advertising purposes. For example, user profiles can be created based on user behavior and the resulting interests of the users. These user profiles can in turn be used, for example, to place advertisements within and outside the networks that presumably correspond to the interests of the users. For these purposes, cookies are generally stored on users' computers in which the user behavior and interests are saved. Furthermore, data can also be stored in the user profiles regardless of the devices used by the users (particularly if the users are members of the respective platforms and are logged in to them). For a detailed description of the respective processing methods and the opt-out options, we refer to the privacy policies and information provided by the operators of the respective networks. In the case of requests for information and the assertion of data subject rights, we would like to point out that These can be asserted most effectively with the providers. Only the providers have access to user data and can take appropriate action and provide information directly. Should you still need assistance, please contact us.

3. Purpose of processing: Communication with users connected and registered on social networks; information and advertising for our products, offers, and services; publicity and image management; evaluation and analysis of users and content of our social media presence.

4. Legal basis: The legal basis for the processing of personal data is our legitimate interest in the above purposes in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR. If you have given us or the person responsible for the social network consent to the processing of your personal data, the legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

a) i.V.m. Art. 7 DS-GVO.

5. Data transfer/recipient category: Social network.

6. The data protection information, information options and opt-out options of the
respective networks / service providers can be found here:

• LinkedIn – Service provider: LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland) –
Privacy Policy: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy , Cookie Policy and Opt-Out: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy

Data protection in applications and in the application Process

1. Applications sent to the controller electronically or by post will be processed electronically or manually for the purpose of completing the application procedure.

2. We expressly point out that application documents containing "special categories of personal data" as defined in Art. 9 GDPR (e.g., a photo that reveals your ethnic origin, religion, or marital status) are not welcome, with the exception of any severe disability that you voluntarily choose to disclose. You should submit your application without this data. This will not affect your chances of being considered for employment.

3. The legal basis for processing is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR and Section 26 BDSG nF

4. If an employment relationship is entered into with the applicant after the application process has been completed, the applicant data will be stored in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
If you are not offered a position after the application process has been completed, your submitted application
letter and supporting documents will be deleted six months after the rejection letter has been sent in order to satisfy any claims and documentation requirements under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG).

Rights of the data subject

1. Objection or revocation against the processing of your data

To the extent that the processing is based on your consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR, Art. 7 GDPR, you have the right to revoke your consent at any time. This does not affect the legality of the processing carried out on the basis of your consent until the revocation.

If we base the processing of your personal data on the balancing of interests pursuant to Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR, you can object to the processing. This is the case, in particular, if the processing is not necessary to fulfill a contract with you, which we will explain in the following description of the functions. If you exercise such an objection, we ask you to explain the reasons why we should not process your personal data as we do. If your objection is justified, we will examine the situation and will either stop or adapt the data processing or explain to you our compelling legitimate reasons for
continuing the processing.

You can object to the processing of your personal data for advertising and data analysis purposes at any time. You can exercise your right of objection free of charge. You can inform us of your objection to advertising using the following contact details:

ECH Elektrochemie Halle GmbH
Otto-Eißfeldt-Straße 8
06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
Managing Director Dr. Michael Hahn
Commercial Register/No.: HRB 206379
Register Court: Stendal District Court
Fax: +49 (0) 345 27 95 70 - 99
Email address: info@ech.de

2. Right to information
You have the right to request confirmation from us as to whether personal data concerning you is being processed. If this is the case, you have the right to information about your personal data stored by us in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR. This includes, in particular, information about the processing purposes, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, and the origin of your data, unless it was collected directly from you.

3. Right to rectification
You have the right to have incorrect data rectified or correct data completed in accordance with Art. 16 GDPR.

4. Right to erasure
You have the right to have your data stored by us erased in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, unless
statutory or contractual retention periods or other statutory obligations or rights to further storage conflict with this.

5. Right to restriction
You have the right to request that the processing of your personal data be restricted if one of the conditions in Art. 18 (1) (a) to (d) GDPR is met:

• If you contest the accuracy of the personal data concerning you for a period that enables the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;

• The processing is unlawful and you refuse to delete the personal data and instead request that the use of the personal data be restricted;

• The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but you need it to assert, exercise or defend legal claims, or

• If you have objected to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 (1) GDPR and it has not yet been determined whether the legitimate reasons of the controlle routweigh your reasons.

6. Right to data portability
You have a right to data portability according to Art. 20 GDPR, which means that you can receive the
personal data we have stored about you in a structured, common and machine-readable format or you can request that it be transmitted to another controller.

7. Right to lodge a complaint
You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your residence, place of work, or place of the alleged infringement.

Data security

To protect all personal data transmitted to us and to ensure that
we and our external service providers adhere to data protection regulations,
we have taken appropriate technical and organizational security measures. Therefore, among
other things, all data between your browser and our server is transmitted encrypted via a secure SSL Connection

Update 2025-05-17