Dawn Becomes First Domestic Private Enterprise with EPDM Polymerization Technology by Acquiring Ningbo SK Equity

In recent days, Dawn Polymer has invested nearly 600 million yuan to acquire an 80% stake in Ningbo SK Synthetic Rubber Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Ningbo SK") and related patent technology, making headlines in the petrochemical sector at the end of the year. This move marks Dawn Polymer's official entry into the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber field, becoming the first private enterprise in China to produce EPDM using vanadium-based solution polymerization technology.

EPDM, or Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer, is a type of ethylene propylene rubber that is copolymerized with a non-conjugated diene as a third monomer. With excellent chemical stability, corrosion resistance, and weather resistance, this material is widely used in various fields such as automotive manufacturing, green building materials, high-end equipment, and medical devices.

For a long time, the production of EPDM has been constrained by high upstream technical barriers, becoming a "bottleneck" problem that restricts the development of related industries in China. Currently, there are only 20 EPDM production enterprises globally, with only 2 state-owned enterprises being purely domestic. According to industry insiders, "based on last year's data estimates, Ningbo SK accounts for about 12% of the domestic EPDM market, and is a medium-sized supplier positioned in the mid-to-high-end market."

An industry insider stated that there are numerous grades of EPDM with significant performance differences. Ningbo SK launched the construction of a 50,000-ton-per-year EPDM production line in 2012, which was completed and put into operation in 2015. It utilizes advanced polymerization patent technology and has been included in the category of new materials encouraged by the National Development and Reform Commission. It is a key project for the upgrading of the regional petrochemical industry and has unique technological advantages compared to other domestic manufacturers.

As an important production base for polymer composite materials in China, Dawn Co., Ltd. focuses on the research, development, production, sales, and service of high-performance thermoplastic elastomers (TPV), modified plastics, color masterbatches, biodegradable materials, and copolyester materials. The company is committed to building high-end innovation platforms for dynamic vulcanization, esterification synthesis, hydrogenation reactions, and plastic modification, which are highly compatible with the application scenarios of EPDM and TPV.

Dawn Co., Ltd. aims to create seven high-end products and solidify four core competencies. The company has incorporated EPDM into its family of elastomers, adding specialty elastomers with heat and oil resistance, thus enriching the variety of synthetic rubber and successfully entering this niche market characterized by high technical barriers and favorable competitive dynamics. It is understood that Ningbo SK possesses mature production capabilities, technological reserves, and customer resources in the EPDM field. In the future, Dawn Co., Ltd. will enhance its overall competitiveness and industry voice in the field of polymer materials through comprehensive synergy in products, technology, market, and supply chain, injecting strong momentum into the high-quality development of China's polymer materials industry.