Accessibility in Salzgitter: BFSG-Compliant Websites for the Industrial Region

The German Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG) transposes EU Directive 2019/882 into German law and has been binding since June 28, 2025. It covers all businesses offering digital products and services to consumers: online shops, booking portals, application platforms and electronic services. The technical requirements are based on EN 301 549 and build on WCAG 2.1. We recommend implementation to WCAG 2.2 AA, the current standard that also addresses future revisions.

For Salzgitter industrial businesses, this creates concrete obligations: any company operating an online shop for spare parts, a career portal for job postings or a digital ordering system must make these offerings accessible. This covers the entire usage process, from search to contract execution. In case of violations, market surveillance authorities can issue orders and impose fines of up to €100,000 (Section 37 BFSG). Beyond mere compliance, the investment is worthwhile: approximately 7.8 million severely disabled people live in Germany (Federal Statistical Office, 2024). Accessibility opens target groups that are systematically excluded without accessible offerings.

The Salzgitter economic region is shaped by heavy industry: Salzgitter AG, one of Europe's largest steel groups, together with a dense network of automotive suppliers and metalworking businesses defines the region's profile. Many of these companies have built digital offerings in recent years that go far beyond simple corporate websites. Technical documentation portals, supplier platforms, career portals and internal service websites are increasingly opened to external users.

These web applications are often complex: multi-step application forms, interactive product catalogs for semi-finished products and steel items, technical configurators and password-protected supplier portals. Accessibility here extends far beyond simple contrast checks. In our development projects, we have gathered experience with exactly these application types and know the typical pitfalls that automated testing tools cannot detect.

Our office in Söhlde near Hildesheim is approximately 30 kilometers from Salzgitter. This proximity enables personal on-site appointments for kickoff meetings, audit presentations and training, combined with the efficiency of remote collaboration for technical audits and remediation. For Salzgitter businesses seeking an accessibility partner with personal availability and understanding of industrial business structures, we offer the combination of deep WCAG expertise and short distances.

Across 50+ accessibility projects (own project experience), we have gained experience with a wide variety of technology stacks and business types. Whether a Shopware shop, WordPress website, TYPO3 CMS, SAP-based portal or bespoke web application: we know the typical barriers of each platform and can intervene precisely without disrupting your operations. Our offering covers the full spectrum: from initial BFSG classification through the WCAG 2.2 audit and accessible development to training and ongoing monitoring.

Product data, material properties and delivery times sit in tables — how to make them accessible is shown in the article on accessible data tables. The standards reference for tenders and supplier questionnaires is explained in the article on the EU standard EN 301 549. And anyone rebuilding a portal anyway plans accessibility most economically from the start — see accessibility by design.