General Terms and Conditions

ifa GmbH – Private Institute for Applied Analytical Technology

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Deutsche Version

These General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply to all services provided by IFA Privates Institut für angewandte Analysentechnik GmbH (hereinafter: "ifa GmbH") to its clients. By placing an order, the client accepts these terms.

  1. Scope of Application


    These GTC apply to all measurement services, analyses, consulting services and any other services provided by ifa GmbH, unless otherwise agreed in writing in individual cases. Conflicting or deviating terms of the client shall not be recognised unless ifa GmbH expressly agrees to their application in writing.

    These GTC apply exclusively in business-to-business transactions with entrepreneurs within the meaning of applicable commercial law.

  2. Contract Formation and Order Placement


    Offers made by ifa GmbH are non-binding unless expressly designated as binding. A contract is formed upon written or e-mail order confirmation by ifa GmbH. The submission of sample material constitutes a binding order once an order confirmation has been issued.

    Changes or extensions to the scope of work require written confirmation by ifa GmbH and may result in adjustments to the delivery time and remuneration.

  3. Scope of Services


    ifa GmbH provides services in the following areas:

    • Thermal Analysis: Measurement services in the field of thermal analysis (DSC, TGA, TMA) as well as associated consulting and method development services. Measurements are carried out in accordance with the agreed standards (DIN EN ISO, ASTM) and in compliance with the principles of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Test reports are delivered to the client in electronic form (PDF) unless otherwise expressly agreed.
    • Software and Web Development: Development of web applications, Windows applications and embedded software, as well as design and development of websites. Support with requirements analysis and specification of software projects.
    • Repair and Reconditioning: Repair of thermal analysis instruments, in particular older PerkinElmer instruments, including diagnosis, spare parts sourcing and recommissioning.

    The specific scope of services is in each case set out in the agreed offer or order confirmation.

  4. Client Obligations


    The client is obliged to provide all information necessary for the execution of the measurements completely and in a timely manner, in particular:

    • Information on the nature, composition and properties of the sample material
    • Warnings regarding hazardous substances, labelling requirements or special handling requirements
    • Specification of the desired measurement methods, standards and test parameters
    • Designation of the responsible contact person at the client's organisation

    ifa GmbH accepts no liability for damages arising from incomplete or incorrect information provided by the client.

  5. Sample Receipt, Retention and Return


      Sample Retention Submitted sample material will be retained for a period of four (4) weeks after completion of the order. After this period, the sample material will — according to the client's instruction — either be disposed of or returned to the client at the client's expense.

    The client is responsible for shipping samples to ifa GmbH. Packaging must be appropriate for the nature of the sample material and must comply with applicable transport and dangerous goods regulations. Damage resulting from inadequate packaging shall be borne by the client.

    ifa GmbH shall not be liable for consumption or impairment of sample material to the extent that this is unavoidable for the performance of the commissioned analyses. This applies in particular to the amount of material consumed during the measurement.

    If the client wishes the remaining material to be returned, this must be specified at the time of order placement. In the absence of such instruction, the material will be disposed of properly after the retention period.

  6. Delivery Times and Processing Deadlines


    The typical processing time is approximately two (2) weeks from receipt of the complete sample material and all required order information at the ifa GmbH laboratory. This timeline is non-binding and provided for guidance purposes only.

    Binding delivery dates require express written agreement. In cases of force majeure, operational disruptions or other circumstances beyond ifa GmbH's control, the processing time shall be extended accordingly. ifa GmbH will inform the client of any anticipated delays.

  7. Remuneration and Payment Terms


    Remuneration is based on the applicable offer issued by ifa GmbH. All prices are exclusive of statutory value added tax.

    Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date without deduction, unless otherwise agreed. In the event of late payment, statutory default interest pursuant to § 288 para. 2 of the German Civil Code (BGB) (nine percentage points above the applicable base interest rate) shall apply. In addition, ifa GmbH is entitled to claim a flat-rate compensation for collection costs of EUR 40.00 pursuant to § 288 para. 5 BGB.

    Costs for materials, special consumables or third-party services incurred on behalf of the client will be invoiced separately.

  8. Confidentiality


      Confidentiality Guarantee All information transmitted or made accessible in connection with an order — in particular samples, measurement data, results and technical documents — will be treated by ifa GmbH as strictly confidential.

    ifa GmbH undertakes to:

    • treat all information, measurement data and results obtained in connection with the order as confidential and not disclose them to third parties;
    • use the information exclusively for the purpose of fulfilling the respective order;
    • bind any employees and freelance collaborators involved in the execution of the order to equivalent confidentiality obligations;
    • after completion of the order and expiry of the retention period, properly dispose of all samples and documents not returned to the client.

    The confidentiality obligation shall not apply to information that:

    • was already known to ifa GmbH prior to the order being placed,
    • is or becomes publicly available through no fault of ifa GmbH, or
    • must be disclosed pursuant to statutory requirements or official orders.

    The client is in turn obliged not to pass on test reports, measurement results or other documents produced by ifa GmbH to third parties without ifa GmbH's prior written consent. Test reports may only be passed on in their entirety — not in excerpts.

  9. Data Protection


    The collection, processing and use of personal data is carried out exclusively within the framework of applicable data protection regulations, in particular the GDPR. For details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

  10. Warranty


    Repair Services

    Repair services carried out on analytical instruments are covered by a warranty period of twelve (12) months from the date of return delivery of the repaired instrument to the client.

    The warranty covers the specific repair work performed and the spare parts used therein. The following are excluded:

    • Damage caused by improper use, overloading or external influences occurring after return of the instrument;
    • Consequential damage to other components that were not the subject of the repair;
    • Normal wear and tear.

    In the event of a warranty claim, the client is obliged to notify ifa GmbH of the defect in writing without delay. ifa GmbH has the right to remedy the defect; if two attempts at remediation fail, the client may claim a reduction in price or withdraw from the contract. Return shipping costs in warranty cases shall be borne by ifa GmbH, provided the defect is acknowledged.

    Software and Web Development

    Software and web development services are covered by a warranty period of twelve (12) months from the date of formal acceptance of the deliverable by the client. Acceptance shall be confirmed in writing; if the client does not refuse acceptance within 14 days of delivery and written notice requesting acceptance, the deliverable shall be deemed accepted.

    In the event of a warranty claim, ifa GmbH shall first have the right to remedy the defect (by correction or re-delivery). If two attempts at remediation fail, the client may claim a reduction in price or withdraw from the contract. Defects resulting from modifications made to the deliverable by the client or by third parties engaged by the client are excluded from warranty.

  11. Liability


    ifa GmbH is liable without limitation for damages arising from injury to life, body or health, and for damages caused by wilful misconduct or gross negligence, in accordance with statutory provisions.

    In all other respects, the liability of ifa GmbH is limited to damages that are foreseeable and typical for the type of contract in question. Any further liability is excluded.

    In particular, ifa GmbH shall not be liable for damages arising from the use of measurement results by the client for decisions outside the agreed scope of analysis.

  12. Copyright and Usage Rights


    Test Reports and Analyses

    Test reports, evaluations and other documents created in connection with measurement orders are protected by copyright. The client receives a simple, non-transferable right of use for the agreed purpose.

    The disclosure of reports to third parties — in particular in excerpts or outside the agreed context — requires the prior written consent of ifa GmbH. Test reports may only be passed on in their entirety.

    Software and Web Development

    Upon full payment of the agreed remuneration, the client receives a full transfer of all rights to the deliverables created under a development order (software, websites, source code, designs), including the rights to reproduce, distribute, modify and resell. The client becomes the complete and exclusive rights holder of the development result — with no lock-in. Until full payment has been received, all usage rights remain with ifa GmbH.

    Excluded from the rights transfer are general development tools, third-party libraries and frameworks that are subject to their own licence terms and that ifa GmbH uses in the course of the project. In respect of such components, the client receives the right to use them within the scope of the applicable third-party licences.

  13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction


    These GTC and all contractual relationships between ifa GmbH and the client are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

    To the extent permitted by law, the exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from or in connection with these GTC is Ulm, Germany.

  14. Miscellaneous


    Should any provision of these GTC be or become invalid or unenforceable, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected. The invalid provision shall be replaced by a valid provision that comes closest to the economic purpose of the invalid clause.

    Amendments or additions to these GTC must be made in writing. No oral collateral agreements exist.

Version: April 2026  |  IFA Privates Institut für angewandte Analysentechnik GmbH, Ulm, Germany
These GTC supersede all previous versions. The German language version shall prevail in case of discrepancies.

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