Data privacy statement Fronius International GmbH

1. Preamble

1.1 We are Fronius International GmbH, Froniusstraße 1, 4643 Pettenbach, Austria, a leading technical company in the fields of welding technology, photovoltaic and battery charging technology and controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (hereinafter referred to as "Fronius"). This privacy statement is aimed at all those who visit our websites and/or use a Fronius app and/or utilise the respective services offered therein. This privacy statement is applicable to any form of use of our services, regardless of whether they are free or paid for.

1.2 Fronius would like to inform you particularly about which data Fronius collects and how the data is used. We will also inform you about what personal and non-personal data about you is collected and stored electronically on our websites and apps. All data is stored and processed by us in compliance with the relevant legal regulations on data protection and data security of the European Union and the Republic of Austria. To the extent that Fronius processes personal data, this is done for the purposes specified in this privacy statement.

1.3 You can view, download or print our current Terms and Conditions of Use and Webshop as well as our FRONIUS privacy statement at any time at https://www.fronius.com. The privacy statement also represents an integral part our Terms and Conditions of Use and Webshop. Your consent to this data privacy statement is prerequisite for the visit of our websites and apps as well as the use of our services.

2. System/device data and Connection data

2.1 Our websites and apps can be visited depending on availability at any time without having to provide immediate information about your person. Fronius stores the following data without direct personal reference (connection data):

a) Browser type and version

b) Operating system

c) Referrer URL (the specific visited website) 

d) Host name of the accessing computer (IP address)

e) Time and date of the server request 

f) Device

2.2 This data of non-registered users is evaluated and used in an anonymized form by Fronius or by a third party for the purpose of the proper functioning of our website, making its contents available, for misuse detection and tracking as well as the improvement of our offer (e.g. by means of scientific research, data analysis etc.).

2.3 Fronius also collects and stores the data listed in section 2.1 from registered users, whereby any use occurs exclusively in anonymised form pursuant to section 2.2. A conclusion on your person based on this data is not possible by the third party authorised.

2.4 Fronius also collects non-personal or anonymised system/device data based on the use of the websites and apps and services of Fronius by registered or activated users. The data is stored in a form that allows no conclusion on a specific person. Fronius may collect, use, share and disclose non-personal data for any purpose.

Example: Fronius uses aggregate data from all systems of a given region to determine the duration and intensity of solar radiation in this region. The region is sufficiently broadly defined that a conclusion on a person or its system is excluded. Fronius is also entitled to disclose such non-personal or anonymized data to third parties.

3. Immediate personal data

3.1 A direct reference to your person or to the respective user can only be established by Fronius after successful registration. Registration requires your consent to disclose your personal data. In this context, our websites and apps collect and store the following personal data:

a)  User data: Title, first name, last name, company, street, house number, postal code, city, state, country, time zone, phone number[WN1] , fax number, e-mail address, date of birth, customer number, user name, password

b) System Data: System name, system identifier, commissioning date/time, company, street, house number, postal code, city, state, country, time zone, longitude, latitude, height, system performance, manufacturer, module type, system description, system image

c) Operator / customer data: Title, first name, last name, company, street, house number, postal code, city, state, country, time zone, phone number[WN1] , fax number, e-mail address, customer number, sales tax identification number.

d) Connection data: Data pursuant to section 2.1

3.2 Fronius collects personal data for the provision of the requested services, for the performance of pre-contractual measures, for the management of contracts and for the improvement of our services and products.

3.3 After registering, you can make your user name visible to other members. In addition, you can share or release more data of your profile or your system and make it visible to other members. Within your profile, you have the option to adjust by appropriate settings the extent to which your data will be released. It is entirely at your discretion to decide which and to what extent this data will be shared with other users or released. Details are further explained by the respective function on the websites.

3.4 To the extent that we use data for a purpose that requires your consent pursuant to statutory regulations, we will seek your express consent. Consent is documented in accordance with the data protection regulations. You can withdraw your given consent at any time with future effect and/or object to the future use of your data for purposes of advertising, market and opinion research. A simple message to Fronius is sufficient to withdraw a consent or for an objection. To guarantee rapid processing, please use the below contact details. You will incur no additional costs for the contact.

3.5 If you believe that our processing of personal data is not consistent with Austrian or European data protection law, we ask you to contact us and send us an appropriate notice.

4. Use of cookies

4.1 Our website uses software to analyse the use of the website. By evaluating this data, valuable insights into the needs of users can be obtained. These insights contribute to further improve the quality of what we offer.

4.2 In this context, so-called cookies are used. Cookies are text files that are stored on the computer of the visitor of the website and thereby make it possible to recognise a visitor on an anonymous basis. Cookies can generally be rejected or deleted by appropriate browser settings.

4.3 By using this website, you agree to the above procedure to analyse the use of our websites.

5. Google Analytics: Data protection and opt-out option

5.1 This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics uses so-called "cookies", text files that are stored on your computer and which help analyse your use of the website. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. However, if IP anonymisation is enabled on this website, your IP address will first be truncated by Google within the member states of the European Union or other states party to the agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transferred to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. On behalf of the operator of this website, Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the website in order to compile reports about the website activity for us as website operators and to provide other services associated with the use of the website. The IP address that your browser transmits within the scope of Google Analytics will not be associated with any other data held by Google.

5.2 You can refuse the storing of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser software; however, we must point out that, in this case, you may not be able to use all the features of this website. You can also prevent the data generated by cookies concerning your use of the website (including your IP address) from being passed on to Google as well as the processing of these data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en

5.3 You can find more information on the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/gb.html or http://www.google.com/intl/en/analytics/privacyoverview.html.

5.4 The Google tracking codes of this website use the extension "_anonymizeIp()" so that IP addresses are only processed in abbreviated form in order to prevent direct personal references.

6. Newsletter

6.1 If you have given your consent for the subscription of news in connection with the regular receipt of interesting offers via e-mail, the rules of this provision apply. Your e-mail address will not be disclosed to other companies. The consent for the use of your e-mail address for advertising purposes may be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future by clicking on the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the newsletter or by sending a message to cancellation(at)fronius.com.

6.2 If you subscribe to our newsletter, we use the data necessary or separately provided by you to regularly send you our e-mail newsletter according to your consent. 

For sending and analyzing our newsletters, we use the e-mail marketing software mailworx. mailworx records the opening and clicking behavior. Specifically, the following information is tracked: time of delivery, time of opening, duration of opening, IP address of the opening, used email program (mail client), which link was clicked and the time of the click. The storage and processing of this data takes place exclusively for being able to send relevant content to the recipients. These data is not passed on to third parties or merged with other data. The data will be stored until the recipient unsubscribes from the newsletter.

6.3  We are entitled to check your e-mail address based on your additional information as to its authenticity and accuracy.

7. Categories of recipients / Disclosure to third parties

7.1 All personal data will be processed by Fronius exclusively within the Fronius group of companies; will be treated strictly confidentially and will not be disclosed to third party recipient categories other than those expressly named in this data privacy statement  without your explicit consent.

7.2 Without your consent, Fronius will only collect, process or use your personal inventory and usage data as far as necessary for the conclusion of the contractual relation and for the use and invoicing of electronic information and communication services.

7.3 Disclosure to third parties by Fronius is also allowed, if there is a legal obligation to do so. This applies, for example, for the proper execution of contractual relationships as well as to obligations related to the prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of sentence including protection against and the prevention of threats to the public security.

7.4 Fronius is exceptionally authorised to disclose personal data to an online payment system. However, this applies only to the extent that the data is required for the proper execution of the payment transaction.

8. Transfer to third countries

8.1 Your personal data, subject to the cases expressly mentioned in these provisions, is not transferred to third countries.

9. Duration of storage / erasure

9.1 Your data is erased or anonymised as soon as the personal data is no longer needed for the purposes for which it was collected or used pursuant to these provisions. Exempt is personal data, which is to be stored longer based on the applicable legal bases or statutory provisions.

10. Your rights

10.1 You have, at any time, the right to:

a) access to personal data about you that is processed by us,

b) rectification of your personal data in the case of incorrectness or incompleteness,

c) restriction of the personal data, where certain conditions are fulfilled, particularly in case of considerable suspicion of unlawful processing or contradiction,

d) data portability of your personal data in a common, structured and machine-readable format,

e) erasure of your personal data in the case of any existing legal reasons,

f) objection with regard to the processing of personal data pertaining to you on grounds relating to your particular situation, unless Fronius provides compelling and legitimate reasons for it, and

g) withdrawal in the event of your consent to the processing of your personal data; and

h) complain to us, if you believe that we are unlawfully processing your personal data. In addition, you also have the right to lodge a complaint to the Austrian Data Protection Authority, Wickenburggasse 8, 1080 Vienna.

10.2 In this respect, please contact us or send your request by mail, e-mail or fax to the contact address below. The processing of your request or your data does not affect the legitimacy of the processing already carried out until the receipt of your request. The processing of your request or your data must be reasonable for Fronius. 

11. Contact in the matter of data protection and security

11.1 Controller:

Fronius International GmbH
Froniusstraße 1
A-4643 Pettenbach
Austria
E-mail: contact@fronius.com
Phone: +43/7242/241-0
Fax: +43/7242/241-3013

11.2 Management:

Elisabeth Engelbrechtsmüller-Strauß

11.3 Global Contact

For any request with regard to clause 10 as above please contact us at our email-address dataprotection(at)fronius.com.