DOC Co. LTD LLP - a manufacturer of ALATAU brand cartridges in Kazakhstan, which have no analogues in CIS countries. The company is also the only domestic manufacturer of solar panels with a capacity of 4 MW per year. It is no coincidence that the company was recognized as the winner of the most prestigious national award "Altyn Sapa". The general director Murat Rakhimzhanov tells about the path to victory, about the present day and the day of tomorrow of the enterprise in an interview with our correspondent.

Murat Kusmanovich, please tell us how you got into business, how it all started?

-    My way into business began with friend’s offer to sell one computerto Zaisan, as well as install softwares and train a state farm accountant in software. I agreed, because I born in Ainabulak settlement, Zaisan area. In 1987, I enrolled in the Faculty of Electronic Computer Engineering of the Kazakh National Technical Institute and graduated in 1993 with a degree in "system engineer". Already in my second year, I wrote software applications,and then participated in the development of logic programs for modeling artificial intelligence. 

In 1991, I opened a small business and began selling computers, as well as installing local area networks. Business was going well until our servicing bank was closed.All accounts were frozen, we were able to get the money only a year later, already devalued a thousand times. The first fry turned out to be a washout. However, the failure did not break us.

DOCCo.LTD LLP was founded in August 2004. The founder and employees of the company were IT industry professionals, graduates of the Faculty of Electronic Computing of KazNTU. The company has rapidly gained its niche in the supply of computers, office equipment, cartridges to the Kazakh market, as well as in the provision of services for installation of structured cable networks and PBX.

-    How did the idea of cartridge production come about?

-    It’s one thing to resell someone else’s products, but entirely different thing to establish own production. In 2010, I set a goal: to organize the production of cartridges under the Kazakh brand in the country for import substitution and creation of new jobs.

To do this, from 2010 to 2011, I with my family lived and worked atone of the innovative cartridge factories in Shenzhen (China). I started from the position of unskilled worker and worked my way upto a production technologist.

In 2011, I purchased the full technological cycle of cartridge production from Chinese partners for 10 thousand USD. Four engineers of the company have also been trained at factories in China. And already in 2012, a workshop forthe production of cartridges under ALATAU brand was opened in Almaty on the territory of SEZ "Information Technology Park" with a capacity of 12,000 pieces peryear.

The workshop was running in the black, and in 2014, in orderto expand the production, the company acquired a production facility on the territory of a meat processing plant with an area of 900 sq. m. Purchase of new equipment allowed increasing the production of cartridges to 50,000 pieces peryear.

In 2017, DOC Co. LTD built and commissioned a new3,400sq.m cartridge manufacturing plant in record time on the territory of the Industrial zone of Almaty. More than 700 million tenge of own funds were invested in its construction and purchase of equipment and 35 jobs were created. Today, the plant produces 150,000 cartridges peryear.

Since 2019, a mechanical workshop forthe production of molds (matrices) for plastic and light-alloy metals has been opened, equipped with modern CNC machines manufactured in the USA, Taiwan, and China, and five additional jobs have been created.

-    Did you manage to achieve quality and enter international sales markets?

-    The company operates in accordance with international standards and has a quality management certificate ST RK ISO 9001-2016 No.KZ.7500053.07.03.00431 and an environmental management certificate ST RK ISO 14001-2016 No.KZ.7500053.07.03.00432.

In order to produce high quality cartridges, test and laboratory equipment was purchased. For example, today we control the print quality (print density and background) using Japanese Ihara densitometer device, according to  the methodology of STMC testing standard.

The page yield is calculated according to the standards ST RK ISO/IEC 19752-2018 and ISO/FEM 19798.

The print quality of the cartridge when exposed to low and high temperatures, as well as at high humidity, is checked using "Climate Camera" equipment.

The cartridge tightness control is carried out using special vacuum device. Vibration stand is used for determination of integrity of the cartridge during transportation.

As a result, LLP produces high quality products with a one-year warranty. The defective cartridge is changed promptly in the shortest possible time.

Our products have already been successfully exported to Russia and Belarus.

- Why did you make a "sharp turn" towards the production of solar panels? After all, these are completely different things - cartridges and solar panels...

- The fact is that I not only constantly improve my own knowledge, but also study market trends. One day I noticed the increased demand fora green economy in the country. Therefore, I decided to open a workshop forthe production of solar panels on the territory of SEZ "Park of Innovative Technologies" in 2017.

In September- October 2021, a marketing analysis of the US solar panel market was conducted. With the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, offline meetings were organized and agreements were reached with distributors and online stores selling solar panels. In July 2022, I plan to go to the USA and sign contracts forthe supply of solar panels to the USA.

In February 2022, offline meetings were held in Europe with Spanish, German and Italian manufacturers of solar panel equipment. Agreements were reached on the configuration and supply of equipment.

An agreement was signed with SEZ Park of Innovative Technologies for allocation of 2 hectares of land forthe construction of a solar panel plant.

The cost of the plant for production of solar panels with a capacity of 200 MW peryear is about 2.4billion KZT.

Today, the development of design and estimate documentation forthe construction ofthe plant on the territory of the SEZ "Park of Innovative Technologies" is underway.

By prior agreement with American partners,all products manufactured by DOC Co. LTD LLP in the amount of 200 MW per year- solar panels will be exported to the USA after receiving the Underwriter Laboratories certificate. The amount of sales of solar panelswill be more than $80 million peryear.

Work will also be carried out to improve the technology of production of cartridges, plastic products.

-    Murat Kusmanovich, man cannot live by bread alone. It is known that you are actively involved in public life, in charity events. How do you manage to find time for everything?

-    I have never, since I was a teenager, shied away from social events. In December 1986, after being discharged from service in the Soviet Army, I participated in the famous December events in Alma-Ata. In 1989,together with students of KazGU, medical and polytechnic institutes, I organized the youth movement "Akikat", constantly participated in rallies and meetings initiated by O. Suleimenov and M. Shakhanov. We unloaded the wagons and transferred the proceeds to support the Nevada - Semey movement.

Many people think that the modern leader lives only forone thing: to get more profit. This is farfrom being the case. Having organized my own business, answering the call of my heart, I participate in many donor and charity events of both urban and republican significance, and also regularly help members of my team solve various financial problems. Even in the current economic difficulties, I find opportunities to continue the company’s activities with minimal losses, including keeping all my jobs. For me, the main value ofthe company is responsibility, mutual understanding in the team and national spirit.

 Our company, in fact, not in word, enhances the prestige of Kazakh products not only in the domestic market, but also in far and near abroad countries, creates new jobs for local youth.

Winning the award "Altyn Sapa" in the nomination "the best industrial enterprise" is another confirmation to this.

- Thank you forthe interview and I wish you reach new levels of success!