When Marat Bakkulov opened a small ventilation equipment manufacturing workshop in a 30-square-meter garage in 2008, few could have imagined that within a few years the company would become one of Kazakhstan’s largest industrial ventilation manufacturers.

Marat Bakkulov holds a degree in Heat, Gas Supply and Ventilation Engineering from KazGASA. Before entering business, he was engaged in scientific research, taught ventilation aerodynamics, and worked as a research engineer. However, during challenging economic times, he decided to move into the private sector and launch his own business.

The company’s first orders were completed almost entirely by hand. A small team of two employees manufactured ventilation systems and fire dampers for construction projects in Almaty. The 2008–2009 financial crisis unexpectedly created new opportunities for the business: imported equipment was expensive and required long delivery times, while locally manufactured products could be supplied much faster. In its first year, the company generated approximately KZT 20 million in revenue, and by the second year, revenue had increased nearly tenfold.

A major milestone in the company’s development was its partnership with the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund. According to Marat Bakkulov, he first became acquainted with the Fund in 2011, when the enterprise was still a small manufacturing operation. Through the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund, the company obtained one of its first equipment leasing arrangements. In 2013, AVZ acquired its first large-scale production machine and, with the support of an investor, built its own manufacturing plant. In 2015–2016, the Damu Fund assisted the company in expanding production capacity and replenishing working capital. In 2021, with the support of the Damu Entrepreneurship Development Fund in the Almaty Region, the company also secured financing that enabled further modernization of production facilities and strengthened its market position. Today, the company’s management highly values the Fund’s contribution to the development of domestic manufacturing and is considering further participation in government support programs.

Today, Almaty Fan Plant LLP (AVZ) is a modern manufacturing enterprise with approximately 9,000 square meters of production facilities and a workforce of more than 150 employees. The plant manufactures a wide range of industrial ventilation equipment, including central air-conditioning units, air handling units, axial and centrifugal fans, fire dampers, and other engineering systems.

The company supplies up to 70% of Kazakhstan’s civil and industrial construction sector demand in this market segment. AVZ equipment is used in the oil and gas, energy, chemical, food processing, pharmaceutical, and mechanical engineering industries, as well as in schools, residential complexes, and business centers.

One of the company’s greatest achievements is its international recognition. AVZ became the only ventilation equipment manufacturer in the CIS countries to obtain the American ASME certification, allowing it to supply products for major oil and gas projects. The company collaborates with TCO, NCOC, Karachaganak, CNPC, and other industrial giants.

In 2024, AVZ launched a joint project with South Korean company Hi Air Korea aimed at localizing high-tech manufacturing in Kazakhstan and introducing advanced engineering solutions through technology transfer.

At the same time, the plant continues to modernize its operations by implementing robotic production lines, a Modula automated storage system, and state-of-the-art European equipment. Total investment in modernization has amounted to approximately KZT 2 billion.

The story of AVZ is a powerful example of how an engineering vision, entrepreneurial determination, and timely government support can transform a small garage workshop into a high-tech enterprise operating at an international level. Today, the company continues to expand production, enter new markets, and plans to further strengthen its cooperation with the Damu Fund. 

Almaty Fan Plant LLP (AVZ)

Phone: +7 (708) 509-46-19
Email: info@avzv.kz
Address: 8A Momyshuly Street, Koyankus Village, Ili District, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan