Altri SGPS S.A., a Portuguese fiber producer, has agreed to acquire a majority stake in AeoniQ, a Switzerland-based materials innovator, to support its commercial-scale development of biodegradable cellulose-based filament, designed to replace polyester and nylon.
As part of the agreement, the AeoniQ will open its first factory at Altri’s Caima pulp mill. The company expects construction to begin in 2026 with an initial capacity of 1.750 tons per year.
In addition to the AeoniQ pilot lines in Austria, a pre-industrial plant will launch in early 2026 in Portugal to accelerate prototyping, brand partnerships and capsule collections.
Hugo Boss and MAS Holdings, a technical garment maker in South Asia, are equity co-investors in the partnership, while The Lycra Company has acquired exclusive distribution rights. Additional development partners include Riopele, Impetus, Lameirinho, Beste, Feinjersey, Taiana, Dolinschek, Aunde Group, Amann, and Strahle + Hess.
“This agreement gives concrete form to Altri’s strategy of moving up the value chain and investing in next-generation materials,” said José Soares de Pina, CEO of Altri. “We are scaling a game-changing innovation that aligns perfectly with our commitment to build a more renewable world.”
Carlo Centonze, CEO of HeiQ, added, “Altri’s investment transforms AeoniQ from a market-proven innovation into a full-scale global production platform. Together, we are offering a market-ready solution to one of the planet’s most polluting industries, textiles. The joint venture brings together Altri’s industrial expertise and HeiQ’s innovation prowess to deliver a European-made, sustainable, high-performance, and plastic-free textile.”
In addition to diversifying its operations, the acquisition of AeoniQ aligns with Altri’s strategy to increase its involvement in the sustainable textile fiber industry.
The companies expect to complete the acquisition process in Q3, subject to the fulfillment of closing conditions.
Image courtesy AeoniQ x Hugo Boss
