From August 9th to 11th, the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Expert Committee of China Plastics Processing Industry Association and the Exchange Conference on Plastic New Plastic Materials, New Technologies and New Achievements were held in Longkou, Shandong Province. Wang Yuzhong, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of Sichuan University, Wang Qi, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor of Sichuan University, Zhang Liqun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of South China University of Technology, and more than 170 experts and representatives from all over the country attended the meeting.

Li Wanping, secretary of the Longkou Municipal Party Committee, and Yu Xiaoning, chairman and president of Dawn Group, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony on August 10th. Zhu Wenwei, part-time vice president of China National Light Industry Council and honorary chairman of China Plastics Processing Industry Association, gave speeches, and Jiao Hongwen, secretary-general of China Plastics Processing Industry Association, presided over the meeting. Deputy mayors Li Lei and Zhao Jing participated in relevant activities. Leaders and experts from China Plastics Processing Industry Association, colleges, scientific research institutions, and related enterprises exchanged in Longkou, walked into Dawn, and participated in the grand event together.

Why was this grand event hosted in Longkou and why was Dawn chosen?

Located in the northern part of the Jiaodong Peninsula and along the southern coast of the Bohai Bay, Longkou City is a modern port city that has risen in strength within the Bohai Economic Rim. In 2023, its comprehensive county-level strength reached the eighth position among the top 100 counties in China, maintaining its lead in Shandong Province and guiding the development in the northern region of the Yangtze River.

Secretary Li Wanping briefly introduced Longkou's technological innovation and economic and social development in his speech. He said the development of new plastic materials industry in Longkou City was in full swing and Dawn Group had developed into an industry leader and a benchmark. It has built the Dawn New Material Science and Technology Industrial Park with high standards, realized technological change and innovation in many fields, realized product modernization, industrial agglomeration, and high-end parks, and formed the "Dawn Phenomenon" of pursuing excellence and bravely climbing the peak. This has also been a typical epitome of Longkou City's promotion of the conversion of old and new kinetic energy and the acceleration of the development of high-end low-carbon green new material industries.

As one of the top 500 private enterprises in China, Dawn Group has been established for more than 30 years. It has always been adhering to the business philosophy of "product-based, people-oriented, technology-led, and customer-first", deeply cultivating the industrial chain, product chain, and enterprise chain, and strengthening chain development. Forming the four advantages of scientific research, industry, parks and talents, it has developed into a modern enterprise group focusing on new material research and development, polymerization, production, sales and application, integrating science, industry, trade, logistics and finance.

In November 2019, Dawn Group hosted the inaugural conference of the Flame Retardant Materials and Applications Expert Committee of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association, along with the 2019 China Flame Retardant Plastics Technology Innovation and Market Application Seminar, in Longkou. During this event, Chairman Yu Xiaoning was elected as the first director of the expert committee. In November 2021, at the 8th Member Representative Assembly of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, Chairman Yu Xiaoning was elected as the Vice Chairman of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association. This recognition highlights Dawn's brand prominence and industrial influence.

The expert committee serves as the "think tank" of the plastics industry.

"As the 'home' of plastic processing enterprises, since its establishment, the China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA) has fully played the role of a bridge and link between government departments and enterprises, as well as among enterprises themselves," said Chairman Yu Xiaoning. He mentioned that the association has made significant contributions in various areas, such as supporting industry enterprises in increasing investment in technological innovation, accelerating industrial structural adjustments, nurturing distinctive regional development and industrial clusters, consolidating the position of the plastics products light industry as a pillar industry, and promoting the high-quality development of the plastics processing industry."

Honorary Chairman Zhu Wenwei stated that the Expert Committee serves as the intellectual repository of the plastic industry, functioning as a consultative and advisory body for industry technological innovation, strategic planning, industrial policies, and standards quality. Members of the Expert Committee are the most authoritative and influential technological professionals across various fields of the plastics industry. They are pioneers, practitioners, and leaders of technological innovation, representing the most valuable strategic force for technological innovation within the China Plastics Processing Industry Association (CPPIA).

Honorary Chairman Zhu Wenwei emphasized that we must be acutely aware that the technological progress of China's plastics industry couldn’t solely rely on the methods of introduction, digestion, absorption, and imitation. Modernization cannot be achieved solely through purchasing and imitating. Committee members of the Expert Committee should enhance their sense of responsibility and urgency, daringly take on the task of innovation, especially in terms of independent and original innovation. They should contribute to China's transformation from a manufacturing powerhouse to a creative powerhouse.

Focusing on new plastics materials, new technologies, and new achievements

Led by academicians and with the presence of various experts, this themed symposium has been exceptionally exciting. This top-tier industry event is centered around new materials, new technologies, and new achievements. Some academicians and experts even visited Dawn to share their experiences.

On the afternoon of August 9th, Honorary Chairman Zhu Wenwei led a group of experts and scholars to Dawn Group's headquarters to participate in a symposium for industry-academia-research collaboration in the plastic processing sector. During the event, they engaged in discussions with Dawn's research team on topics such as flame retardancy, reinforcement, and bio-degradation. Qiu Huanling, Vice President of Dawn Group, mentioned, "Our research and development personnel engaged in direct dialogue with experts, which allowed us to clarify issues encountered during product development. This was a highly valuable technological feast."

 On that afternoon, a group led by Academician Wang Yuzhong, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a professor at Sichuan University, visited Dawn Group. They engaged in discussions regarding the development of fully bio-degradable polymer materials, materials that can undergo repeated chemical recycling, and new types of fire-resistant and flame retardant materials. Additionally, Professor Xu Yingjun, Executive Deputy Dean of the Institute of Functional Textiles and Advanced Materials at Qingdao University, introduced the achievements of the institute in functional textiles and advanced materials research.

"R&D professionals should have ideals, a broad perspective, and values," said Academician Wang Yuzhong. He emphasized the importance of focusing on contributing to the company and realizing one's own value, suggesting that R&D professionals should thrive within the platform provided by Dawn Group, aiming for a sense of accomplishment in the products they develop. Chairman Yu Xiaoning expressed that Dawn Group had a long history of collaborative efforts with universities and research institutions. He looks forward to deepening cooperation with Sichuan University in flame retardant and degradable material domains, as well as with Qingdao University in the research and development of nonwoven fabrics.

On August 10th, during the opening ceremony, the Expert Committee of the China Plastics Processing Industry Association announced the newly appointed list of experts and presented certificates to them.

Dr. Chen Jun, director of Dawn Qingdao R&D Center, was hired as an expert

Dr. Hao Yanping from Dawn Qingdao R&D Center made a special report

Subsequently, industry experts who attended the event conducted more than 40 industry academic exchange activities focusing on new plastic materials, new technologies, and new achievements.

"Night of Dawn" Reception Dinner

Working together to lead and promote the steady and far-reaching development of China's plastics industry

Secretary Li Wanping expressed that with the gathering of authoritative experts and elites in Longkou, sharing development achievements, and discussing development plans together, it will undoubtedly provide strong impetus for the innovation and sustainable development of the plastics new materials industry. He believes that this conference will bring enormous development opportunities to the plastic new materials industry in Longkou. He hopes that through this conference, closer cooperative relationships can be established with industry experts, leading to more collaborative outcomes. The Longkou Municipal Party Committee and Government will provide the best services, utmost support, and create the optimal environment.

Currently, Dawn Group has strategically planned to "focus on one circle and three chains, strengthen three major sectors, refine associated enterprises, achieve management modernization, market internationalization and industry technicalization, and strive for 100-billion  industry and park". The key focus is on advancing the high-end polyolefin industry chain, the degradable industry chain, the titanium industry chain, and chemical equipment industry construction. They are actively attracting investments for the industrial park, the industry, and funding. Utilizing a "chain thinking" approach, they aim to create distinctive industrial clusters, anchor a "thousands of people, trillions of sales volume " industrial park, and establish a world-class green, low-carbon, high-end new material manufacturing base.

The development of the enterprise owes much to the growing strength of the Party and the country, the favorable environment provided by the fertile land of Longkou for the development of the private economy, the assistance provided by the China Plastics Processing Industry Association in terms of industry development direction, industrial chain coordination, and technological innovation, and the strong support from esteemed academicians and experts. Chairman Yu Xiaoning expressed, "I hope that through this conference, we can gain new ideas, new approaches, and new methods to promote the development of the plastics industry, and let new materials, new technologies, and new achievements contribute to the industry's future brilliance."

As an essential manufacturing industry within chinese modern industrial system, the plastics industry constitutes a vital part of the advanced polymer materials sector. Only by adhering to technological innovation, can we secure a greater advantage in international competition and fulfill the critical role of safeguarding the security of industrial and supply chains. Zhu Wenwei emphasized the need to comprehensively enhance our high-level innovation capabilities, lead and propell the industry towards high-quality development and upgrading. "We look forward to the Expert Committee achieving more remarkable results and working together to lead and promote the stable and far-reaching development of China's plastics industry on the path of high-quality development."