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Thomas Smith Fasteners has seen a boom in its exports of imperial fasteners to China. Office manager and head of export Gary Stevens thinks it is an indication that foreign trust in British manufacturing is returning. He said: “I think it's down to quality. A lot of countries associate the UK with good quality products and there are not many bolt manufacturers still going. Since the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster, lots of companies now have tightened up their quality procedures and now insist on European or UK origin manufactured products. Recently we have found that we are getting more inquiries for British made products, and with our manufacturing facilities on site, we are able to supply to customer requirements with all the relevant certificates. It shows that overseas customers still have confidence in the high quality of British manufacture.”The company is to continue focusing its efforts on the export market in 2014.