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Privacy

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 5, 2025

Last Updated: October 28, 2026 (Section 2.2: cookie consent banner and cookie categories)

1. Introduction

Dowding Industries Inc. (“Dowding Industries,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting it through our compliance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy describes our practices in connection with information we collect through our website located at DowdingIndustries.com (the “Website”).

This Privacy Policy applies to information we collect through our Website and does not apply to information collected by us offline or through any other means, including on any other website operated by Dowding Industries or any third party.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Technical Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our Website, we automatically collect certain technical information about your equipment, browsing actions, and patterns, including:

  • Log Information: Internet Protocol (IP) address (in anonymized form), browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types and versions, operating system and platform
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, time and date of visit, time spent on pages, page interaction information (such as scrolling, clicks, and mouse-overs)
  • Technical Data: Information about your device and internet connection, including device type, unique device identifiers, and diagnostic data

2.2 Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies on our Website. Cookies are small data files that a website stores in your browser. Cookies in the Preferences, Statistics and Marketing categories below are only set after you consent.

Your cookie choices. When you first visit, a banner at the bottom of the page lets you Accept, Reject or Manage Settings. Manage Settings lets you allow or block each category separately. To change your choice later, clear this site’s cookies and site data in your browser and the banner will appear again on your next visit.

We group cookies into these categories:

  • Functional: Required for the Website to work, including remembering your cookie choice. These are always on.
  • Preferences: Embedded maps (OpenStreetMap). Off unless you allow them.
  • Statistics: Google Analytics, which counts visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the Website. Off unless you allow it.
  • Marketing: Google advertising tags. We do not currently advertise through the Website. Off unless you allow it.

The Website uses Google Consent Mode, so Google’s analytics and advertising tags stay in a denied state until you consent. You can also set your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when a cookie is being sent. If you do, some parts of the Website may not work properly.

2.3 No Collection of Personal Identifiable Information (PII)

We do not collect, store, or retain any personally identifiable information (PII) through our Website. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Names
  • Email addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Physical addresses
  • Payment information
  • Social Security numbers or other government identifiers

This policy does not change that: the Website does not collect phone numbers or any other personally identifiable information. Mobile numbers for our internal SMS Alerts Program are collected only by email or phone request to our IT department, never through the Website, and are covered in Section 15.

3. How We Use Collected Information

We use the technical information we collect solely for the following purposes:

  • To analyze website traffic and usage patterns
  • To scale our web services appropriately
  • To improve our Website’s functionality and user experience
  • To detect, prevent, and address technical issues
  • To monitor the performance and security of our Website

4. Data Retention

We retain server logs and cookie data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy. Typically:

  • Server logs are retained for a maximum of 365 days
  • Cookie data expires according to the cookie type (session cookies expire when you close your browser; persistent cookies expire after a set period)

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Since we do not collect PII, we have no personal data to share. The anonymous technical data we collect may be shared with:

  • Service Providers: Third-party companies that provide website hosting, data analysis, and infrastructure services
  • Legal Requirements: If required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities

Mobile information is never shared for marketing. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

6. International Data Transfers

Our Website is operated from the United States. If you access our Website from outside the United States, please be aware that any information collected will be transferred to and processed in the United States. By using our Website, you consent to this transfer.

7. Your Rights Under International Data Protection Laws

7.1 European Union (GDPR) Rights

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have certain data protection rights, including:

  • The right to access technical data relating to your use of our Website
  • The right to rectification of inaccurate data
  • The right to erasure of your data
  • The right to restrict processing
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to object to processing

7.2 California (CCPA/CPRA) Rights

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Know what information is being collected about you
  • Know whether your information is sold or disclosed and to whom
  • Say no to the sale of personal information
  • Access your information
  • Request deletion of your information

7.3 Other Jurisdictions

We respect the privacy rights granted under all applicable international, national, and state data protection laws, including but not limited to:

  • UK GDPR
  • Brazil’s LGPD
  • Canada’s PIPEDA
  • Australia’s Privacy Act
  • Japan’s APPI

8. Data Security

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect the security of any information we collect. However, please note that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure.

9. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect any information from children under 16.

10. Do Not Track Signals

Our Website does not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals. However, since we do not collect PII, there is no personal information to track across websites.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Dowding Industries Inc.
449 Marilin Ave.
Eaton Rapids, MI 48827
United States

Email: webmaster at dowdingindustries.com
Phone: 517-663-5455

14. Legal Basis for Processing (EEA Visitors)

For visitors from the EEA, our legal basis for collecting and using the technical information described in this Privacy Policy is our legitimate interests in operating, improving, and securing our Website (Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR).

15. SMS Alerts Program (Text Messaging)

Program name: Dowding IT Alerts. Sender: Dowding Industries Inc., from (517) 836-1054.

What it is: automated text messages from our IT monitoring system to Dowding Industries employees about IT and infrastructure events at our Eaton Rapids, Michigan facilities, for example: utility power outages and backup power (UPS) status, network and plant-to-plant link outages, server room temperature, and outages of critical servers and business systems, followed by an all-clear when the problem is resolved. The program is internal to Dowding Industries staff. It is not open to the public and never sends marketing or promotional messages.

How you opt in: a Dowding Industries employee joins by emailing [email protected] with the subject JOIN IT ALERTS, their mobile number and the consent statement, or by calling the IT department at 517-663-5455. Step-by-step instructions are on our Dowding IT Alerts page. We do not take sign-ups or phone numbers for this program through the Website. The consent statement reads: “I want to receive Dowding IT Alerts by text message at [mobile number]. I understand message frequency varies, message and data rates may apply, I can reply STOP to opt out at any time, and reply HELP for help.” Joining is voluntary and is not a condition of employment. No one is added without their own written consent. Program terms are in Section 18 of our Terms and Conditions.

  • Message frequency varies. Messages are sent only when an IT or infrastructure event happens, typically a few per month, more during an extended outage.
  • Message and data rates may apply.
  • Reply STOP to any message to opt out. You will get one confirmation and no further messages.
  • Reply HELP for help, or contact the IT department at 517-663-5455 or [email protected].
  • Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

How we use and protect your number: your mobile number is used only to send these alerts. It is stored in our internal IT monitoring system and passed to our messaging provider, Twilio, solely to deliver the messages. We keep it until you opt out or leave the alert list, then remove it. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes, and text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

16. Team Member Notifications and Golf League Texts

Program names: Dowding Team Member Notifications (keyword DOWD) and Skip Dowding Memorial Charity Golf League texts (keyword DOWDGOLF). Senders: Dowding Industries Inc., from (517) 836-5100 (Team Member Notifications) and (517) 836-0186 (Golf League texts). Messaging provider: Twilio.

What they are: text messages to Dowding Industries employees. Team Member Notifications cover company news and events, holiday and plant closure notices, HR and benefits reminders, meeting reminders and operational notices. Golf League texts go only to employees who play in the league and cover schedules, weather cancellations and league events. Neither program is open to the public or sends marketing or promotional messages.

How you opt in: for Team Member Notifications, you write your mobile number on your new-hire paperwork and check the separate, optional consent box, and HR adds you; or you text DOWD to (517) 836-5100. For Golf League texts, you write your number on the league sign-up form and check its separate, optional consent box, or text DOWDGOLF to (517) 836-0186. The exact wording of both consent boxes is on our Dowding Text Message Programs page. We do not take sign-ups or phone numbers for these programs through the Website. Joining is voluntary and is not a condition of employment. Details are on our Dowding Text Message Programs page, and program terms are in Sections 19 and 20 of our Terms and Conditions.

  • Message frequency varies: up to 30 messages per month for Team Member Notifications, and up to 10 per month during the league season for Golf League texts.
  • Message and data rates may apply.
  • Reply STOP to any message to opt out. You will get one confirmation and no further messages from that program.
  • Reply HELP for help, or call Dowding Industries at 517-663-5455.
  • Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

How we use and protect your number: your mobile number is used only to send messages for the program you joined. It is stored in Dowding Industries’ own Microsoft 365 system together with the record of your consent, and passed to our messaging provider, Twilio, solely to deliver the messages. We keep it until you opt out, ask to be removed, or leave Dowding Industries, then mark it removed and stop sending. We keep the consent record for at least four years. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes, and text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date stated at the top of this document and will remain in effect except with respect to any changes in its provisions in the future, which will be in effect immediately after being posted on this page.