A few years later, the business boom brought accusations that China was dumping cheap lighters on the international market. Zhou led 16 lighter makers in Wenzhou to challenge an anti-dumping investigation launched by the European Committee (EC) in May 2002.

"I just thought that as chairman of the Wenzhou Lighters Industry Association, I should take the responsibility to lead the companies responding the lawsuit," Zhou said. "If we won the case, our exports wouldn't be affected."

China won the case. It was the first time that Chinese enterprises had won an anti-dumping case sued by the EC since the country entered the World Trade Organization in December 2001.

As his factory developed and prospered, Zhou paid more attention to nurturing his products and protecting his brand. In early 1991, when Zhou was still operating his small workshop, he registered his now famous "Tiger" trademark. Today, he has registered it in more than 50 countries and regions.

But unlike Zhejiang Tiger Lighter, most of Wenzhou's lighter factories are original equipment manufacturers (OEM), companies that make products marketed by other vendors usually under the resellers' names and brands.

"OEM can bring us advancement," Zhou said, adding that being an OEM was beneficial for local lighter makers, because they did not have to design and sell products themselves, and resellers could sell their products at higher prices. But he also said his company would not function exclusively as an OEM. Zhou's factory produces 30 percent of its products for the OEM market and the other 70 percent under the Tiger brand.

Innovation is also a main area of focus for Zhou. In 2006, his company developed a lighter that could be used at high altitudes, because most do not work in areas that are 2,500 meters above sea level. This would let him exploit new markets such as Mexico and Colombia, he said.

While many companies are diversifying their businesses, Zhou said he would remain focused only on cigarette lighters and try to create a world-famous brand.

"That needs the efforts of decades, centuries and generations," he said. Now his dream may be passed on to his son who studied business administration and trade in Canada and has started his career as a regular salesman at his father's company.