The 50:50 joint venture between Elf Atochem and Union Carbide in linear polyethylene (PE-LLD) got off the ground at the beginning of 1995 (PIE No 13 1994). Headquarters of the new company, Aspen Polymers, an acronym for Association des spécialités en polyéthylene de Normandie, is at Paris. According to the jv partners, production will focus on specialities for the cable, packaging, automobile and construction sectors. Capacities of 280,000 t/y at Gonfreville L'Orcher will comprise primarily Elf Atochem's gas phase plant, which is being expanded to 200,000 t/y. Union Carbide is contributing its Unipol process. Marketing will be done by the partners through their own organisations. LDPE specialities for the cable industry will be marketed by Union Carbide under its trade names. LDPE specialities for films, HDPE products for extrusion, injection moulding and blow moulding will continue to be sold by Atochem under the name Lactène.