1. Introduction

The responsible handling of data and the protection of your personal data is important to us.

We, the Wood Composite Simulations LLC (WoCS), operate the website wood-composites.com. This privacy policy governs the processing of personal data of website visitors, customers, suppliers and other interested parties with whom we have business contact (hereinafter collectively referred to as «users») by us as the «controller». The current services of third-party companies that we use can be found under «Transparency notice on the use of third-party services».

This Privacy Policy is aligned with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Swiss Data Protection Act (DPA) and the revised Swiss Data Protection (revDPA). However, the application of these laws depends on each individual case

2. Contact details

The «controller» of data processing as described in this privacy policy (i.e. the responsible person) is the

Wood Composite Simulations LLC
Chemin du Compois 13
2533 Evilard
mail@wood-composites.com

3. Personal data that we process

3.1 Use of our services

We primarily process the personal data that we receive from our customers and other business partners as part of our business relationship with them and other persons involved or that we collect from their users when operating our website or other applications. Personal data refers to all information relating to an identified or identifiable person. This includes, in particular, first name, surname, gender, email address, postal address. We process this personal data with regard to or in connection with the provision of our services.

3.2 Receipt of our newsletter

From time to time, we may send our users news about our projects, our company or our services and products, provided you have registered for our newsletter (so-called «double opt-in»). We therefore only process personal data in connection with the sending of our newsletter with consent. Users can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, either via the unsubscribe link provided in every newsletter or by sending a message to mail@wood-composites.com, thereby revoking their consent for the future.

4. Technical data

4.1 Fundamentals

As with any connection to a web server, the server on which we have our website hosted automatically logs and stores certain technical data and stores it for a short period of time. These technical data are: the IP address and operating system of your device, the browser you use to access our website, the date and time of your visit and your use of our website, the website from which the access is made (referrer URL), the name of your access provider and the website last accessed in the same browser window. We process this data in order to make our website available to you, to ensure the accessibility, stability and security of our website and to offer you the best possible user experience. In principle, this technical data is not personal data within the meaning of data protection law; however, if it is considered personal data, e.g. due to a change in legal practice, we have a legitimate interest in processing it.

4.2 Cookies

We use cookies on our websites. These are small text files that are downloaded to your device when you visit a website. Some of them (so-called session cookies) are necessary so that we can enable you to use certain functions. Cookies store how our website is used so that we can analyze, manage, develop and improve our services to provide you with the best possible user experience.

Most Internet browsers accept cookies automatically. Personal settings in the browser can be used to determine whether cookies or other tracking technologies should be accepted or deactivated and whether you want to be warned about the use of these technologies. For more information, you can use the browser’s help function. Please note that deactivating cookies may mean that you cannot use all the functions of our websites and that blocking or deactivating such functions may restrict or exclude the use of the website.

4.3 Analytics

We use third-party services on our website to evaluate the use of our website, to compile reports on website activity and to obtain information for the purpose of improving our services. This gives us a better understanding of our users’ experiences (e.g. how much time users spend on which pages, which links they click on, what they like and dislike, etc.). In particular, the IP address of the device (collected and stored in anonymized form), the screen size, the device type (Unique Device Identifiers), information about the browser used, the location (country only) and about the preferred language for displaying our website are collected. Information may also be collected about the use of mouse and keyboard keys, the date and time of the visit and the pages visited. We have a legitimate interest in this. We only use the services with activated IP anonymization. This means that IP addresses are processed in abbreviated form and direct personal references are excluded. We operate these services on our own infrastructure so that no data is transmitted to servers that are outside our control.

You can find the current services of third-party companies that we use for analytics under «Transparency notice on the use of third-party services». You can object to the storage of a user profile and information about your visit to our website as well as the setting of tracking cookies on the websites of these third-party companies specified in the transparency notice.

4.4 Social plugins

On our company pages in social media (e.g. LinkedIn) you will find posts on current developments at WoCS and on our range of services. We may use social plugins (“plugins”) from various social networks. When you visit a website that contains plugins, the browser establishes a direct connection with the servers of the respective social network. The content of the plugins is transmitted by the respective social network directly to the browser and integrated into the website. By integrating the plugins, the social network receives information about how the device used by the user has accessed the website.

If you are logged into the respective social network, your visit to our website will be assigned to your account in the respective social network. If you interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the Facebook “Like” button or posting a comment, the corresponding information is transmitted directly to the respective social network and stored there.

Please note that we do not receive any information about the content of the transmitted data or its use by the respective social network. The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by the respective social network as well as the related rights and setting options for protecting the privacy of users are governed by the privacy policy of the respective social network.

You can find the current services of third-party companies that we use for social plugins under «Transparency notice on the use of third-party services».

5. Purposes for the processing of personal data

As the controller, WoCS collects and processes personal data in particular for the following purposes:

• For the performance of contracts and for the provision of our services and products;
• For advertising and marketing, such as sending newsletters about current projects from us and/or our partners (only if consent has been given to send newsletters);
• Optimization of our posts on our social media company pages;
• Information about new developments at our company and new service offerings;
• For the operation, security, maintenance and further development of our websites, services, offers and systems;
• For payment processing;
• For individual communication, such as inquiries and complaints and their response;
• For statistical evaluations, analyses and documentation;
• To comply with legal requirements, to pursue and enforce rights, to defend and enforce legal claims, to combat abuse, fraud and money laundering, for the purposes of legal investigations or proceedings to respond to requests from public authorities;
• For other purposes, insofar as a legal obligation requires processing or these were recognizable or indicated by the circumstances at the time of data collection.

We have a legitimate interest in the processing of personal data corresponding to the stated purposes. Some processing is also necessary so that we can fulfill our contractual or legal obligations (e.g. retention obligations).

The analysis of technical data for the ongoing optimization of our website wood-composites.com and our apps is carried out on an anonymous and aggregated basis.

6. Disclosure to third parties

We do not pass on your data to third parties. Your data, in particular your contact details, will only be passed on to third parties if the data is public data, if this is necessary in connection with the use or provision of our services and / or to achieve the purposes described in this privacy policy, if the disclosure of data is necessary for the processing of contractual relationships with you, if the disclosure is necessary for the assertion, exercise or defense of our legal claims, if this is done to comply with legal obligations or official requirements or if this is permitted by law. The categories of recipients are our external service providers as well as authorities and courts.

7. Data disclosure abroad

In connection with the transfer of data to third parties, it is possible that your data will not only be processed in Switzerland. If the statutory data protection in the relevant recipient country does not correspond to the level of data protection in Switzerland, we will take appropriate measures to ensure that a transfer may take place (e.g. by concluding the standard contractual clauses) or that another option provided for by law exists (e.g. if you give us your consent).

Please note that if you do not adjust your cookie settings, your data will also be transferred to third countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) without an adequate level of protection under data protection law (in particular the USA). There is a possibility that authorities may access the data without there being any legal remedy against this.

8. Storage duration and retention period

We only store personal data for as long as necessary to provide you with our services that have been requested or for purposes for which consent has been given. Please note that special statutory retention periods may apply to certain data. This data must be stored by us until the end of the retention period. For example, business communications or concluded contracts must be stored for up to 10 years. The data will then be deleted from our systems. Technical data is deleted after 5 weeks.

9. Data security and security notice

We use technical and organizational security measures to adequately protect personal data against unauthorized access, manipulation, loss and destruction and regularly review these measures.

We cannot guarantee the confidentiality of data transmitted electronically (e.g. by email). The Internet, websites and the electronic transmission of data are generally considered insecure in terms of confidentiality and data security. Unauthorized third parties can access information that is exchanged via the aforementioned channels, and data can be damaged or its content altered. We accept no liability for the security of electronically transmitted data.

10. Links to third party websites

Our websites, products, applications and services may contain links to third-party websites, products and services. Personal data collected and processed by these third parties is subject to the privacy practices of those third parties. This privacy policy does not apply to third-party websites that can be accessed via our website. We recommend that you check the privacy notices of these third parties. We have no control over how these companies comply with data protection requirements.

11. Rights of users

Users have legal rights based on the applicable data protection regulations. In particular, they can make use of the rights listed below. To assert these rights, please contact mail@wood-composites.com.

11.1 Information

Users are entitled to submit a request for information. In this case, we will promptly inform the user of all personal data processed, including the available information on the origin of the data, the purpose, the categories of personal data processed, the parties involved in the processing, the data recipients and all other information required by law.

11.2 Correction and deletion

Users are entitled to have incorrect data corrected and / or to have their data deleted.

When a data record is deleted, all of the user’s personal data is deleted, unless deletion is not possible due to a legal or contractual retention obligation. Anonymized user data will continue to be stored in our database and processed for statistics and evaluations.

11.3 Right to restriction of processing

Under certain conditions, users have the right to request that the processing of their personal data be restricted.

11.4 Right of withdrawal

In principle, users have the right to withdraw their consent at any time. Data processing carried out on the basis of consent prior to its withdrawal does not become unlawful as a result of withdrawal.

11.5 Right of appeal

If you are resident in a member state of the EU or the EEA, you are entitled to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority against the way in which we process your personal data. In Switzerland, you can submit a complaint to the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

12. Changes

We may amend this privacy policy at any time without prior notice. The current version published on our website applies.

Last update: 05.01.2024