Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions of the Metaalunie
1 January 2019
General Terms and Conditions issued by Koninklijke Metaalunie (the employers’ organisation for small and medium-sized enterprises in the metal industry) referredto as TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE METAALUNIE, filed with the Registry of the Court of Rotterdam on 1 January 2019.Publication of the Koninklijke Metaalunie, P.O. Box 2600, 3430 GA, Nieuwegein.© Koninklijke Metaalunie
Article 1: Scope of application
1.1. These Terms and Conditions apply to all offers made by a Metaalunie member,to all agreements that it enters into and to all agreements arising fromthis, all of which insofar as the Metaalunie member is the supplier or thecontractor.
1.2. Metaalunie members who apply these Terms and Conditions are referred toas the Contractor. The other party is referred to as the Client.
1.3. In the event of conflicts between the agreement entered into by the Clientand the Contractor and these Terms and Conditions, the provisions of theagreement will prevail.
1.4. These Terms and Conditions may only be applied by Metaalunie members.
Article 2: Offers
2.1. All offers are without obligation. The Contractor is entitled to revoke its offerup to two working days after it has received the acceptance.
2.2. If the Client provides the Contractor with information, the Contractor mayassume that it is accurate and complete and will base its offer on this information.
2.3. The prices stated in the offer are denominated in euros, excluding VAT andother government levies or taxes. The prices do not include travel, accommodation,packaging, storage and transport costs, nor do they include costsfor loading, unloading and cooperating with customs formalities.
Article 3: Confidentiality
3.1. All information provided to the Client by or on behalf of the Contractor, suchas offers, designs, images, drawings and know-how, of whatever nature andin whatever form are confidential, and the Client will not use it for any purposeother than for the implementation of the agreement.
3.2. The Client will not disclose or reproduce the information referred to in paragraph1 of this article.
3.3. If the Client infringes one of the obligations referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article, it will owe an immediately payable penalty of € 25,000 foreach infringement. This penalty can be claimed in addition to compensationby virtue of the law.
3.4. The Client must return or destroy the information referred to in paragraph 1 ofthis article immediately on request, within a period set at the discretion of theContractor. If this provision is infringed, the Client will owe the Contractor animmediately payable penalty of € 1,000 per day. This penalty can be claimedin addition to compensation by virtue of the law.
Article 4: Advice and information provided
4.1. The Client cannot derive any rights from advice and information provided bythe Contractor that is not directly related to the contract.
4.2. If the Client provides the Contractor with information, the Contractor mayassume that it is accurate and complete when implementing the agreement.
4.3. The Client indemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claims relatedto the use of advice, drawings, calculations, designs, materials, brands, samples,models and the like provided by or on behalf of the Client. The Clientwill compensate the Contractor for all damage suffered by the Contractor,including all costs incurred for defence against these claims.
Article 5: Delivery time/implementation period
5.1. Delivery times or implementation periods specified are indicative.
5.2. The delivery time or implementation period only commences once an agreementhas been reached on all commercial and technical details, once allthe information, including final and approved drawings and the like, is in thepossession of the Contractor, the agreed payment (or instalment) has beenreceived, and the other conditions for the contract have been met.
5.3. If:a. there are circumstances other than those known to the Contractor atthe time it set the delivery period or implementation period, the deliveryperiod or implementation period may be extended by the time theContractor needs – taking into account its planning – to implement thecontract under these circumstances;b. there are contract extras, the delivery period or implementation periodmay be extended by the time the Contractor needs – taking into accountits planning – to have the materials and parts delivered and to carry outthe contract extras;c. the Contractor suspends its obligations, the delivery period or implementationperiod may be extended by the time the Contractor needs – takinginto account its planning – to implement the contract after the reason forthe suspension no longer applies.Unless the Client has evidence to the contrary, the duration of the extensionof the delivery period or implementation period is presumed to be necessaryand to be the result of a situation as referred to above in a to c.
5.4. The Client is obliged to pay all costs that the Contractor incurs or damagesthat the Contractor suffers as a result of a delay in the delivery or implementationperiod as stated in paragraph 3 of this article.
5.5. Under no circumstances does exceeding the agreed delivery or implementationperiod give the Client the right to compensation or to terminate the agreement.The Client indemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claimsdue to exceeding the delivery or implementation period.
Article 6: Delivery and risk transfer
6.1. Delivery takes place when the Contractor, at its business location, makes thegood available to the Client and has informed the Client that the good is atits disposal. From that time onwards, the Client bears the risk of the good interms of storage, loading, transport and unloading among others.
6.2. The Client and the Contractor may agree that the Contractor will be responsiblefor the transport. In that case too, the Client bears the risk of, inter alia,storage, loading, transport and unloading. The Client can insure itself againstthese risks.
6.3. If a good is exchanged and the Client retains the good to be exchanged pendingdelivery of the new good, the risk of the good to be exchanged remainswith the Client until the time that it hands over the good to the Contractor. Ifthe Client is unable to deliver the good to be exchanged in the condition inwhich it was when the agreement was concluded, the Contractor may terminatethe agreement.
Article 7: Price changes
The Contractor may pass on to the Client an increase in cost-determiningfactors that occurs after entering into the agreement. The Client is obliged topay the price increase immediately on the Contractor’s request.
Article 8: Force majeure
8.1. If the Contractor fails to fulfil its obligations, this cannot be attributed to theContractor if this failure is due to force majeure.
8.2. Force majeure includes, inter alia, if third parties engaged by the Contractor– such as suppliers, subcontractors and transporters, or other parties thatthe Client is dependent on – do not meet their obligations at all or on time, orcircumstances due to weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorism, cybercrime,disruption of digital infrastructure, fire, power failures, loss, theft or lossof tools, materials or information, roadblocks, strikes or work interruptionsand import or trade restrictions.
8.3. The Contractor is entitled to suspend fulfilment of its obligations if it is temporarilyprevented from fulfilling its obligations to the Client due to force majeure.Once the force majeure circumstances no longer apply, the Contractorwill fulfil its obligations as soon as its planning permits.
8.4. If it concerns force majeure and fulfilment is or becomes permanently impossible,or the temporary force majeure circumstances have lasted for morethan six months, the Contractor is entitled to terminate the agreement withimmediate effect either entirely or in part. In those cases, the Client is entitledto terminate the agreement with immediate effect, but only for that part of theobligations that the Contractor has not yet fulfilled.
8.5. The parties are not entitled to compensation for the damages suffered or tobe suffered as a result of the force majeure, suspension or termination asreferred to in this article.
Article 9: Scope of the work
9.1. The Client must ensure that all licences, exemptions and other decisions thatare necessary to carry out the work are obtained in good time. The Client isobliged to send the Contractor a copy of the aforementioned documents immediatelyon the Contractor’s request.
9.2. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the work does not include:a. groundwork, pile driving, cutting, breaking, foundation work, masonry,carpentry, plastering, painting, wallpapering, repair work or other constructionwork;b. making connections to gas, water, electricity, internet or other infrastructuralfacilities;c. measures to prevent or limit damage to, of theft or loss of goods presentat or near the workplace;d. removing equipment, building materials or waste;e. vertical and horizontal transport.
Article 10: Contract extras
10.1. Changes in the work will in any event lead to contract extras if:a. it concerns changes in the design, the specifications or the contractdocuments;b. the information provided by the Client does not correspond with reality;c. the estimated quantities deviate by more than 5%.
10.2. Contract extras are calculated on the basis of the price-determining factorsthat apply at the time the extra work is performed. The Client is obliged to paythe price for the contract extras immediately on the Contractor’s request.
Article 11: Implementation of the work
11.1. The Client will ensure that the Contractor can carry out its work undisturbedand at the agreed time and that it is given the necessary facilities for theimplementation of its work, such as:a. gas, water, electricity and internet;b. heating;c. lockable dry storage space;d. the facilities prescribed under the Dutch Working Conditions Act[Arbowet].
11.2. The Client bears the risk and is liable for damage to and theft or loss of goodsbelonging to the Contractor, Client and third parties, such as tools, materialor equipment intended for the work or used for the work, located at or nearthe place where the work is carried out or at another agreed location.
11.3. Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 2 of this article, the Client isobliged to take out adequate insurance against the risks referred to in thatparagraph. In addition, the Client must take out insurance for the risk of workrelateddamage with regard to the equipment to be used. The Client mustsend the Contractor a copy of the relevant insurance(s) and proof of paymentof the premium immediately on request. In the event of damages, the Clientis obliged to report this immediately to its insurer for further processing andsettlement.
Article 12: Delivery of the work
12.1. The work is considered to be delivered in the following cases:a. once the Client has approved the work;b. if the Client has put the work into operation. If the Client puts part of thework into operation, then that part is considered to have been delivered;c. if the Contractor has notified the Client in writing that the work has beencompleted, and the Client fails to inform the Contractor in writing that thework has not been approved within 14 days of the day of the notification;d. if the Client does not approve the work on the grounds of minor defectsor missing parts that can be repaired or delivered within 30 days and thatdo not hinder the commissioning of the work.
12.2. If the Client does not approve the work, it is obliged to inform the Contractorof this in writing, stating the reasons. The Client must give the Contractor theopportunity to deliver the work at a later date.
12.3. The Client indemnifies the Contractor against third-party claims concerningdamage to parts of the work not delivered due to the use of parts of the workthat have already been delivered.
Article 13: Liability
13.1. In the event of an attributable failure, the Contractor is still obliged to fulfil itscontractual obligations, with due observance of Article 14.
13.2. The Contractor’s obligation to compensate damages – regardless of thegrounds – is limited to the damage against which the Contractor is coveredunder an insurance policy taken out by it or on its behalf. However, the scopeof this obligation is never greater than the amount paid out under this insurancein the case in question.
13.3. If, for whatever reason, the Contractor does not have the right to invokeparagraph 2 of this article, the obligation to compensate damage is limitedto a maximum of 15% of the total contract amount (excluding VAT). If theagreement consists of parts or partial deliveries, this obligation is limited to amaximum of 15% (excluding VAT) of the contract amount for that part or thatpartial delivery. If it concerns continuing performance contracts, the obligationto compensate damage is limited to a maximum of 15% (excluding VAT)of the contract amount owed over the last twelve months prior to the losscausingevent.
13.4. The following do not qualify for compensation:a. consequential damages. Consequential damages include inter aliabusiness interruption losses, loss of production, loss of profit, penalties,transport costs and travel and subsistence expenses;b. damage to property in the care, custody or control of, but not owned bythe insured party. Among other things, this damage includes damagecaused by or during the performance of the work to goods that are beingworked on or to goods that are located in the vicinity of the place wherethe work is being carried out;c. damage as a result of intent or wilful recklessness by the Contractor’sauxiliary staff or non-managerial subordinates.The Client can take out insurance for these damages if possible.
13.5. The Contractor is not obliged to compensate damage to material supplied byor on behalf of the Client as a result of improper processing.
13.6. The Client indemnifies the Contractor against all third-party claims due toproduct liability as a result of a defect in a product that has been delivered bythe Client to a third party and of which the products or materials supplied bythe Contractor are a part. The Client is obliged to reimburse all the damagessuffered by the Contractor in this respect, including the (full) costs of thedefence.
Article 14: Guarantee and other claims
14.1. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Contractor guarantees the properexecution of the agreed performance for a period of six months after deliveryor completion, as detailed in the following paragraphs.
14.2. If the parties have agreed to deviating guarantee conditions, the provisions ofthis article will remain in full force, unless this is in conflict with those deviatingguarantee conditions.
14.3. If the agreed performance has not been executed properly, the Contractor willdecide within a reasonable period of time whether it will still perform the workproperly or credit the Client for a proportionate part of the contract amount.
14.4. If the Contractor opts to still execute the performance properly, it will determinethe manner and time of execution. The Client must in all cases offer theContractor the opportunity to do so. If the agreed performance (also) includedthe processing of material provided by the Client, the Client must supply newmaterial at its own expense and risk.
14.5. The Client is responsible for sending parts or materials that are to be repairedor replaced by the Contractor to the Contractor’s business location.
14.6. The following are for the Client’s account:a. all transport or shipping costs;b. costs for dismantling and assembly;c. travel and subsistence expenses and travel time.
14.7. The Contractor is only obliged to implement the guarantee if the Client hasfulfilled all its obligations.
14.8. a. The guarantee does not cover defects that are the result of:- normal wear and tear ;improper use;- lack of maintenance or maintenance carried out incorrectly;- installation, assembly, modification or repairs carried out by the Client orthird parties;- faulty or unsuitable goods originating from or prescribed by the Client;- faulty or unsuitable materials or tools used by the Client.b. No guarantee is given for:- goods delivered that were not new at the time of delivery;- inspections and repairs carried out on goods owned by the Client;- parts that are subject to a manufacturer’s guarantee.
14.9. The provisions of paragraphs 3 to 8 of this article apply by analogy to any ofthe Client’s claims based on breach of contract, non-conformity or any otherbasis whatsoever.
Article 15: Obligation to complain
15.1. The Client no longer has the right to invoke a defective performance if ithas not complained to the Contractor in writing within fourteen days after itdiscovered or should reasonably have discovered the defect.
15.2. The Client must have filed complaints about the invoice with the Contractorin writing and within the payment term, subject to forfeiture of all rights. Ifthe payment term is longer than thirty days, the Client must have filed itscomplaint in writing within thirty days of the invoice date at the latest.
Article 16: Failure to take possession of goods
16.1. The Client is obliged to take actual possession of the goods that are thesubject of the agreement at the agreed location at the end of the delivery orimplementation period.16.2. The Client must cooperate fully and free of charge to enable the Contractorto deliver the goods.16.3. Goods not taken into possession are stored at the Client’s expense and risk.
16.4. If the provisions of paragraph 1 or 2 of this article are infringed, the Client willowe the Contractor a penalty for each infringement of 1 250 per day up to amaximum of 1 25,000, after the Contractor has given notice of default. Thispenalty can be claimed in addition to compensation by virtue of the law.
Article 17: Payment
17.1. Payment is made at the Contractor’s business address or into an account tobe designated by the Contractor.
17.2. Unless otherwise agreed, payments must be made within 30 days of theinvoice date.17.3. If the Client fails to fulfil its payment obligation, it is obliged to comply with arequest from the Contractor for a tender of payment instead of the agreedamount.
17.4. The Client’s right to offset its claims against the Contractor or to suspendthe fulfilment of its obligations is excluded, unless the Contractor has beengranted a suspension of payments or is bankrupt or the statutory debt adjustmentscheme applies to the Contractor.
17.5. Irrespective of whether the Contractor has fully executed the agreed performance,everything that the Client owes or will owe it under the agreement isimmediately due and payable if:a. a payment term has been exceeded;b. the Client does not fulfil its obligations under Article 16;c. the Client has filed for bankruptcy or suspension of payments;d. the Client’s goods or claims have been attached;the Client (a company) is dissolved or wound up;f. the Client (a natural person) files a application to be admitted to thestatutory debt adjustment scheme, is placed under a guardianship orderor has died.
17.6. If payment is delayed, the Client will owe interest on that sum to the Contractorwith effect from the day following the day agreed as the final day ofpayment up to and including the day on which the Client settles the amountin question. If the parties have not agreed on the final day of payment, theinterest is due from 30 days after the sum has become due and payable. Theinterest is 12% per year, but is equal to the statutory interest if this is higher.For the interest calculation, a part of the month is considered to be a fullmonth. At the end of each year, the amount on which the interest is calculatedwill be increased by the interest due for that year.
17.7. The Contractor is entitled to offset its debts to the Client against claims thatcompanies affiliated to the Contractor have against the Client. In addition,the Contractor is entitled to offset its claims to the Client against debts thatcompanies affiliated to the Contractor have against the Client. Furthermore,the Contractor is entitled to offset its debts to the Client against claims againstcompanies affiliated to the Client. ‘Affiliated companies’ means all companiesbelonging to the same group, within the meaning of Book 2, Section 24b ofthe Dutch Civil Code, and a participation within the meaning of Book 2, Section24c of the Dutch Civil Code.
17.8. For late payments, the Client owes the Contractor all extrajudicial costs witha minimum of € 75.These costs are calculated on the basis of the following table, i.e., the principalsum plus interest:on the first € 3,000 15%on the excess up to € 6,000 10%on the excess up to € 15,000 8%on the excess up to € 60,000 5%on the excess from € 60,000 or more 3%The extrajudicial costs actually incurred are due if they are higher than thecalculation given above.
17.9. If judgment is rendered in favour of the Contractor in legal proceedings, eitherentirely or for the most part, the Client will bear all costs incurred in connectionwith these proceedings.
Article 18: Securities
18.1. Irrespective of the agreed payment terms, the Client is obliged to providesufficient security for payment immediately on the Contractor’s request andat its discretion. If the Client does not comply with this provision within the settime limit, it will immediately be in default. In that case, the Contractor has theright to terminate the agreement and to recover its damages from the Client.
18.2. The Contractor remains the owner of the delivered goods as long as the Client:a. has not fulfilled its obligations under any agreement with the Contractor;b. claims arising from non-fulfilment of the aforementioned agreements,such as damage, penalties, interest and costs, have not been settled.
18.3. As long as the delivered goods are subject to retention of title, the Client maynot encumber or dispose of these goods other than in the course of its normalbusiness operations. This provision has effect under property law.
18.4. After the Contractor has invoked its retention of title, it may take back thedelivered goods. The Client will cooperate fully with this.
18.5. If the Client has fulfilled its obligations after the Contractor has delivered thegoods to it in accordance with the agreement, the retention of title with respect to these goods is revived if the Client does not fulfil its obligations underan agreement entered into subsequently.
18.6. The Contractor has a right of pledge and a right of retention on all goods thatit has or may receive from the Client on any grounds whatsoever and for allclaims that it has or might have against the Client.
Article 19: Intellectual property rights
19.1. The Contractor is considered to be the maker, designer or inventor of theworks, models or inventions created in the context of the agreement. TheContractor therefore has the exclusive right to apply for a patent, trademarkor model.
19.2. The Contractor will not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Client inthe implementation of the agreement.
19.3. If the performance to be delivered by the Contractor (also) includes providingcomputer software, the source code will not be handed over to the Client.The Client will only acquire a non-exclusive, worldwide and perpetual licencefor use for the computer software solely for the purpose of the normal useand proper functioning of the good. The Client is not permitted to transfer thelicence or to issue a sub-licence. When the Client sells the good to a thirdparty, the licence transfers by operation of law to the acquirer of the good.
19.4. The Contractor disclaims liability for damages that the Client suffers as aresult of an infringement of third-party intellectual property rights. The Clientindemnifies the Contractor against any third-party claims related to aninfringement of intellectual property rights.
Article 20: Assignment of rights or obligations
The Client may not assign or pledge any rights or obligations pursuant to anyarticle in these General Terms and Conditions or the underlying agreement(s),unless it has the prior written consent of the Contractor. This provision haseffect under property law.
Article 21: Cancellation or termination of the agreement
21.1. The Client is not entitled to cancel or terminate the agreement, unless theContractor agrees to this. If the Contractor agrees, the Client will owe theContractor an immediately due and payable compensation equal to theagreed price, less the savings for the Contractor as a result of the termination.The compensation will be at least 20% of the agreed price.21.2. If the price depends on the actual costs to be incurred by the Contractor (on acost-plus basis), the compensation as referred to in the first paragraph of thisarticle is estimated based on the sum of the costs and labour and the profitthat the Contractor would have made for the entire contract.Article 22: Applicable law and competent court
22.1. Dutch law applies.
22.2. The Vienna Sales Convention (CISG) does not apply, nor does any otherinternational regulation that may be excluded.
22.3. The Dutch civil court with jurisdiction in the Contractor’s place of business isauthorised to take cognisance of any disputes. The Contractor may deviatefrom this rule governing jurisdiction and rely on the statutory rules governingjurisdiction instead.
These Terms and Conditions constitute a comprehensive translation of theDutch version of the Terms and Conditions of the Metaalunie as filed with theRegistry of the Court of Rotterdam on 1 January 2019. The Dutch version willprevail in the explanation and interpretation of this text.