Strong Partnerships Shape Strong Outcomes - Our Chat With Max Paeslack, Ceo Of Zerma

Strong Partnerships Shape Strong Outcomes - Our Chat With Max Paeslack, Ceo Of Zerma

Long-term partnerships matter in our industry. They shape product quality, local support, and the results customers see on site.

Founded in Germany, Zerma is a global manufacturer of size reduction equipment for the plastics and recycling industries. With production based in China through Zerma Shanghai, the company supplies granulators and shredders to processors worldwide, known for durability and consistent performance.

In this interview, Max Paeslack, CEO of Zerma Shanghai, shares his perspective on working with Telford Smith.

From how the relationship first began to what makes the collaboration work day to day, he speaks openly about trust, technical standards, and shared goals.

He also reflects on how the recycling sector is shifting and why partnerships built on consistency and performance are more important than ever.

Watch the full interview.

Transcript:

Telford Smith (TS): We recently sat down with Max Paeslack, CEO of Zerma Shanghai, to talk partnership, performance, and what’s ahead for the recycling industry.Here’s what he had to say about working with Telford Smith. Please introduce yourself.

Max Paeslack (MP): My name is Max Paeslack. I'm the CEO of Zerma Shanghai, and I'm very happy to be here in Australia to talk to you guys about Zerma's relationship with Telford Smith. 

TS: How did your connection with Telford Smith begin?

MP: Telford Smiths and us, we've been working together for, I think, about 20 years now. And it just happened that Telford Smiths needed a reliable partner for size reduction equipment and found us and we found each other and it was a good match and we've been happy working together for that time. 

TS: What made you choose to work with Telford Smith?

MP: Telford Smiths was a great opportunity for us

because we had no representation in the Australia-Asian market before that time

and they seem to be, and still are, a company that knows the market very well,

has a strong technical background and are well respected in the local market. 

TS: Describe your relationship with the Telford Smith Team.

MP: Working with the people here at Telford Smiths has been fantastic. I mean, they're all very hard-working but also fun-loving and not serious when they have to be, but also fun when they don't have to be. So we've been spending many hours together at exhibitions all over the world, meeting each other and discussing projects and work. And tt's been great. 

TS: What do you enjoy most about collaborating with them?

MP: Yeah, again, it's a very good mix of professional attitudes, knowing a good technical background, knowing about what the customers need and caring about what the customers need. And then also, again, being very good, open, friendly people. 

TS: Is there a project / experience that stands out?

MP: More than 20 years, there have been so many projects, all of them being very interesting. I think the phase about maybe 15 years back when we were installing and setting up lots of part shredders here in the country, some very remote locations have been really memorable because it's, a machine that is in the middle of nowhere, but it solves a problem for our customers. So that's been great. 

TS: What does Telford Smith do especially well?

MP: I like very much about working with Telford

Smith that they have a very strong sense of what the customers need and

technical understanding and help us integrate our machines into bigger systems

by using their experience in systems design and helping the customer achieve

what they want to achieve.

TS: How do they differ from other companies you have worked with?

MP: Having a good location here with the capabilities, technical capabilities to do customizations, to do service for customers, and a very strong understanding of the market needs and the technical capabilities in designing and building and complementing our machines to make complete plants. That's very, very helpful and sort of unique in the field of agencies. 

TS: Sum up Telford Smith in 3 words.

MP: Three words would be dedication, commitment, and passion. I think the team here is very dedicated to solving problems for a customer, helping customers, and they're committed to doing the right thing, committed to providing the best equipment, the best solution to customers, and passion, of course, because they're very passionate about what they do, trying to do everything to the best of their abilities, and also they can be quite passionate and fun outside of work. 

TS: How can we be more effective together?

MP: During this trip, I learned and talking to the team here, there are things that can be improved, communication between the two companies on both sides, sharing of new developments, sharing of projects, successful or unsuccessful, but really I think communication is important. And I think having meetings like this more regularly will also be helpful.

TS: What industry trends do you think Telford Smith is well positioned to take on?

MP: I think Telford Smith is really on the forefront of working with advanced systems, systems design and implementation, trying to, because of course, Australia being a big, big country with lots of remote areas, making it easier to troubleshoot a customer system without having to physically be there. So helping us also to improve in that regard for modern communication with the machine and modern troubleshooting.

TS: What stands out to you about the relationship between our teams?

MP: Every time seeing the guys doing exhibitions, I'm coming here, talking, having fun, but also seriously discussing projects and machines, it's always good. It's a very good crew, a very good team that works well together and we're always happy to meet each other. 

TS: Would you recommend Telford Smith as a partner?

MP: Of course, but of course not to another company

that's making size reduction. They're ours.

TS: Is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to mention?

MP: No, I think we're very happy. It's been 20 years and let's see, hope we go for at least another 20.

TS: Our thanks to Max for sharing his perspective and knowledge to the Telford Smith Team. We’re proud of the partnership and friendship we have developed and excited for what’s next.