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Thank you for visiting the website of era-contact GmbH and for your interest in our company and our products. The privacy of your data is important to us and we want you to feel at ease when viewing our website. Protecting your privacy in the processing of your personal data is an important concern to which we pay special attention in our business processes. We process personal data collected during visits to our website in accordance with the data protection rules of the country in which the controller or processor is based. The era-contact website may contain links to websites of other providers not covered by this Data Protection Statement.

1. Name and contact details of the controller or processor and of the company’s Data Protection Officer

This privacy policy applies to data processing by:

Controller pursuant to Article 4(7) of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

era-contact GmbH, Gewerbestraße 44,75015 Bretten, Germany info@era-contact.de

The company’s data protection officer, Mr Stefan Henschel, can be contacted at the above address or by email to datenschutz@era-contact.de.

2. Collection and storage of personal data and nature and purpose of its use

a) When you visit our website

When you visit our website, the browser used on your device automatically sends information to our website’s server. This information is temporarily stored in a log file. The following information is collected without your intervention and stored until automatically deleted:

  • IP address of the requesting computer;
  • Date and time of access;
  • Name and URL of the retrieved file;
  • Referrer URL;
  • Browser used and in some cases your computer’s operating system;
  • The name of your access provider.

We process the above data for the following purposes:

  • Ensuring unimpeded communication with the website;
  • Ensuring convenient use of our website;
  • Analysis of system security and stability;
  • Other administrative purposes.

The legal basis for the data processing is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest follows from the above-listed purposes of data collection. In no circumstances do we use the collected data for the purpose of inferring your identity. We additionally use cookies when you visit our website. For further information about these, please see under headings 4 this privacy policy.

b)   When you use our contact form

For questions of any kind, we provide a form on the website for you to contact us. You need to provide a valid email address, forename and surname so that we know who the request is from and in order to respond. Further details can be provided voluntarily. The data is transmitted in encrypted form (see under heading 8). The legal basis for the data processing for the purpose of entering into contact with you is Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR on the basis of your freely given consent. The personal data we collect for use of the contact form is automatically deleted once your request has been dealt with.

3. Disclosure of data

We do not transfer your personal data to any third party other than for the purposes listed in the following. We only disclose your personal information to third parties if:

  • If you have given your express consent to it in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR;
  • Disclosure is necessary in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR for the establishment, exercise and defence of legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have an overriding compelling interest in the non-disclosure of your data;
  • The disclosure is necessary in accordance with Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR for compliance with a legal obligation;
  • It is lawful and is necessary in accordance with Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR for the performance of a contract to which you are party.

4. Cookies

We use cookies on our website. These are small files that your browser creates automatically and that are stored on your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our site. Cookies do not harm your device and do not contain viruses, Trojans or other malware. A cookie stores information that results in connection with the specific device used. However, this does not mean that we gain direct knowledge of your identity. Cookies are used to improve the website experience for you.

For example, we use session cookies to recognise that you have already visited individual pages on our website. These cookies are automatically deleted when you leave our website.

In addition, to improve usability, we also use temporary cookies that are stored on your device for various periods of time. If you return to our site to use our services again, these cookies make it possible to see that you have visited before and any inputs and settings you have made so you do not have to repeat them. We also use cookies to keep statistics on the use of our website and analyse them to improve our content (see heading 5).

The data processed by way of cookies is needed for the purposes stated in order to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or so that you are always asked before a cookie is created. Please note that disabling cookies completely may mean that you cannot use all features of our website.

5. Your rights as a data subject

Your rights are as follows:

  • Right of access: You have the right (under Article 15 of the GDPR) to obtain access to the personal data concerning you that we process. In particular, you have the right to obtain information on the purposes of the processing, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom the personal data has been or will be disclosed, the envisaged storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure and restriction of processing and of a right to object, the source of your data if it is not collected from you, and the existence of any automated decision-making, including profiling, and meaningful information on the details of any such automated decision-making;

  • Right to rectification: You have the right (under Article 16 of the GDPR) to obtain rectification or completion of personal data stored with us;

  • Right to erasure: You have the right (under Article 17 of the GDPR) to obtain erasure of the personal data concerning you that is stored with us to the extent that the processing is not necessary for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims;

  • Right to restriction of processing: You have the right (under Article 18 of the GDPR) to obtain restriction of the processing of your personal data to the extent that you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful but you oppose its erasure and we no longer need the data, but you require it for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or you have objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21 of the GDPR;

  • Right to data portability: You have the right (under Article 20 of the GDPR) to receive the personal data concerning you, which you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to have the data transmitted to another controller;

  • Right to withdraw your consent: You have the right (under Article 7(3) of the GDPR) to withdraw the consent that you have given. This has the effect that we are then no longer allowed to continue the data processing based on that consent.

  • Right to lodge a complaint: You have the right (under Article 77 of the GDPR) to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority for your place of habitual residence or place of work or for our registered office.

6. Right to object

To the extent that your personal data is processed on the basis of legitimate interests in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR, you have the right, under Article 21 of the GDPR, to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to the processing of your personal data. In the case of direct marketing, you have a general right to object that we abide by without reference to any particular situation.

If you wish to exercise your right to withdraw consent or your right to object, it is sufficient to send an email to: datenschutz@era-contact.de.

7. Data security

When you visit our website, we use the widespread secure socket layer (SSL) protocol in conjunction with the highest level of encryption supported by your browser. This is generally 256-bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we use 128-bit SSL v3 encryption instead. You can tell if a specific page of our website is transferred in encrypted form by the closed key or padlock icon in your browser address bar. In all other respects, we use suitable technical and organisational security measures to protect your data against accidental or deliberate manipulation, partial or total loss, destruction or unauthorised access by third parties. Our security measures are continually improved in line with technological developments.

8. Validity of and modifications to this Data Protection Statement

This Data Protection Statement is valid as of the present time and was last revised in May 2018. As a result of enhancements to our website and the services provided on it, or as a result of legal or official requirements, it may become necessary for this Data Protection Statement to be revised.

InnoTrans 2018: Successful product presentation

era-contact presents itself as a system supplier for UIC plug connectors and a development partner for smart solutions

From 18th to 21st September, the world's most important trade fair for the railway industry took place: InnoTrans in Berlin. InnoTrans takes place every two years and offers era-contact the opportunity to present themselves as a development partner and a system supplier to customers as a company with expert knowledge and around 90 years of experience – this investment in innovations was honored this year with the accolade of being in the "Top 100 of the most innovative companies in Germany". The feedback from the existing clients was entirely positive, interest in the new, intelligent solutions and the expanded UIC range of products was great, and the attendees were all international. Even Dr. Christian Jung, member of the German Parliament (FDP), paid a visit to era-contact, a globally successful, medium-sized traditional company, in order to speak to the two owners, Mr. Erich Aichele and Mrs. Christl Aichele-Schnabel, along with other members of the management team, regarding the economic perspective of this family-owned company.

Global market leader and system supplier presents a world's first 

The era-transceiver® fibre-extension, which era-contact, as the global market leader for electrical rail couplings, presented as a world's first, generated a great deal of interest: Thanks to the extension provided by the fiber optic cables, the era-transceiver can be positioned at any location on the train – the technology is no longer bound to the coupling itself. With this flexibility in the number of separate 1 Gb Ethernet signals, in future, all Ethernet requirements will be met – and all this in the usual small space. The era-transceiver® fibre-extension can, for example, be integrated into the train's control cabinets as a 19 inch plug-in unit – and era-contact is also presenting this model. The extremely small electrical coupling then only contains the standard era-transceiver contacts that are required for transmission, and offers space for more than 20 separate Ethernet signals. In retrofit solutions for the immense vehicle fleet, existing holes can be used. This flexibility not only means that the solution can be integrated into small couplings, but it also allows for the pack density to be immensely increased. The solution is suitable for initial installation and for retrofitting. This means that era-contact is taking an important step towards innovative technology within the scope of the digitalization of rail transport.

Plug connectors in accordance with UIC – era-contact presents a complete range of products

With their complete range of products, era-contact presented the UIC plug connectors in accordance with UIC 552, 558, 541 and UIC IT. With the latest product release, value was placed on the latest production technologies and materials in order to set the benchmark for quality, reliability and user-friendly design. era-contact also surprised the interested audience with short delivery times that are unheard of in this product segment. The UIC plug connectors from era-contact are intended to reduce the maintenance effort for the customer, while the installation and handling have been designed to be user-friendly. Special versions are no problem for era-contact, because the product and production concept of the plug connectors is perfectly designed to meet the requirements of UIC.

A sophisticated, self-sealing cover version has been added to the UIC 558 – era-contact worked with their customers to develop this solution in order to cope with the high demands for IP protection and safety. The closure solution is an optional component of the UIC 558 receptacle from era-contact. It keeps the receptacle closed in the event of environmental influences, and supports the closure that is important for the IP protection in the event of careless handling or unauthorized actuation by third parties.

Predictive maintenance – smart solutions for preventive maintenance

As experts in electrical couplings and service providers for maintenance and service, era-contact is familiar with the consequences for the electrical couplings in the event of operating errors, damage or insufficient maintenance: Whether water ingress or couplings that are no longer correctly matched – thanks to the intelligent sensor concept from era-contact, the second smart solution, causes of damage can be detected so early that unplanned faults in network operations, downtimes or even worse can be prevented. The era-Intelligent coupler system uses special sensors to allow you to detect problems and raise the alarm about them in good time. This means that you can respond outside of the specified maintenance periods, and the worst-case scenario, a time-consuming and costly failure of the train unit, can be prevented. The economic added value of the intelligent solution was very well received; era-contact uses the presented sensors to offer additional options that could be implemented based on the customer's requirements.

 As a system supplier for electromechanical systems, era-contact also presented their expertise in cable and control cabinet assembly. Thanks to the synergies created by the existing development competence, the range of products and the assembly proficiency, era-contact is successfully positioned as a system supplier for data and signal transmission solutions for the entire train, which was clear to see at InnoTrans 2018 thanks to the wide range of presentations.


Photo © era-contact GmbH

Further information: era-contact at InnoTrans - Exhibitor & Products

era-contact worldwide

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