Question 1

What sets the marketplace apart from a supplier directory?

Accepted Answer

A directory lists whoever signs up. With us, every provider goes through a documented qualification review before admission: proven capacity, certificates verified in the original, at least two cross-confirmed references and a signed Data Processing Agreement. A listing cannot be bought, and placement cannot be purchased.

Question 2

Can I view provider profiles in full without submitting a request?

Accepted Answer

What's publicly visible is a slice: discipline, region, certifications and service focus. Capacity, lead-time and pricing details are only shared after a concrete request. That protects providers' business data and ensures you receive current figures rather than a polished self-description.

Question 3

Which axes can I search by?

Accepted Answer

By division (Production, Staffing, Logistics, Procurement), by industry (Automotive, Aerospace, Chemicals, Packaging, Marine) and by category. The axes can be combined — for example, machining for aerospace with EN 9100. Search queries are not evaluated on a personal-data basis.

Question 4

How often is provider information updated?

Accepted Answer

Capacity, utilization and headcount are updated annually, and certificates are resubmitted at each expiry date. If a credential lapses and isn't renewed, the provider is taken out of matching until it's back in place.

Question 5

How long does it take to get the first partner suggestion?

Accepted Answer

48 hours, on median, after a complete request. For projects with unusual credential requirements — special NADCAP processes, for example — shortlisting can take longer; we'll let you know within one business day rather than letting the deadline slip.

Question 6

What does a request cost?

Accepted Answer

The request, shortlisting and first partner suggestion are free and non-binding. We're only paid once you engage us to manage the award process or a consulting module. We take no commission from providers — that's what makes a neutral recommendation possible in the first place.

Question 7

How many quotes will I receive?

Accepted Answer

Typically two to four. Fewer if the credential requirements genuinely narrow the field — more quotes aren't a goal in themselves. All quotes are mapped onto a single evaluation matrix so you can actually compare price, timeline and credentials.

Question 8

Do I need to upload drawings to start a request?

Accepted Answer

No. For shortlisting, a description, material, tolerance class and quantity are enough. We only exchange technical documents after a confidentiality agreement, and only with the providers you've approved.

Question 9

Do you also support implementation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as a separate service module — from technical integration through acceptance testing to ongoing operations. The separation stays clean: we represent your side during acceptance and defect tracking, and we don't earn anything from the equipment we recommended.

Question 10

How do I get admitted as a partner?

Accepted Answer

Through registration under “For Partners.” That's followed by a consultation, verification of your original certificates, cross-confirmation from two reference clients and signing a Data Processing Agreement. The process typically takes three to four weeks.

Question 11

What does admission cost?

Accepted Answer

Registration and the qualification review are free. There's no listing fee and no paid placement. We're paid exclusively on the buyer side — which is why your position in the results can't be bought, and is credible to buyers.

Question 12

What kind of requests will I receive?

Accepted Answer

Only ones that match your proven capacity, credentials and region. We don't broadcast requests widely, because a quote you couldn't fulfil anyway is effort without outcome for both sides.

Question 13

Will my prices or capacity be publicly visible?

Accepted Answer

No. Pricing, capacity and utilization figures are never public. They're only shared as part of a concrete request, and only with the requesting company, once you've given your consent.

Question 14

Where is my data processed?

Accepted Answer

Exclusively on servers in Germany. Hosting, email delivery, fonts and traffic analytics all run within the EU. There is no transfer to third countries and no data processing outside the EEA — not even through a service provider's subcontractors.

Question 15

Do you use Google Fonts, Google Analytics or a CDN?

Accepted Answer

No. Fonts are served locally, there's no connection made to Google servers and no third-party CDN. Traffic analytics is self-hosted, cookie-free by default and never stores an IP address in plain text.

Question 16

What's the legal basis for processing my request?

Accepted Answer

Your consent under Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, as well as for pre-contractual measures under Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Consent is collected separately from other declarations, is not pre-checked, and can be withdrawn at any time without formal requirements. Withdrawal takes effect on receipt and does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before it.

Question 17

Is my data passed on to providers?

Accepted Answer

Only after your explicit approval, and only to the providers you name. There's no background sharing “for selection purposes.” Every disclosure is logged, and on request you'll receive an overview of what information was sent to whom.

Question 18

How long is my data stored?

Accepted Answer

We delete request data six months after the matter is closed, provided no contract results. If a contract is concluded, the statutory commercial and tax retention periods of six or ten years apply. Applicant data is deleted after six months if no hire results.

Question 19

What rights do I have?

Accepted Answer

Access (Art. 15), rectification (Art. 16), erasure (Art. 17), restriction of processing (Art. 18), data portability (Art. 20) and objection (Art. 21). An informal email is enough; we respond within one month. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

Question 20

Does automated decision-making or profiling take place?

Accepted Answer

No. Partner shortlisting is rule-based and a person is responsible for it. There is no automated decision-making within the meaning of Art. 22 GDPR and no scoring of user behavior.

Question 21

How are you paid?

Accepted Answer

Through consulting and advisory services on the buyer side, either as a day rate or a fixed price per module. There's no success fee tied to order volume and no commission from providers. Either one would undermine the neutrality of the recommendation.

Question 22

Are you tied to specific manufacturers or systems?

Accepted Answer

No. We hold no stakes in any provider, are not a sales partner of any system manufacturer, and run tenders on a vendor-neutral basis. Any existing relationships are disclosed before the award decision.

Question 23

What happens if a matched partner fails to deliver?

Accepted Answer

The contract is between you and the provider — we're not a party to it. But we do support defect tracking and escalation on your side, document the course of events, and take consequences within the partner base: repeated broken commitments lead to suspension from matching.

Question 24

Do you also work with smaller companies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The qualification review is the same for everyone, regardless of size or name recognition. For many projects, a specialized 20-person shop is the better-suited partner than a large-group supplier.

What needs to be clarified before an award

Marketplace

Process & Requests

For Providers

Data Protection & GDPR

Contract & Collaboration

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