A brother team from Australia is bound for the Summer Games in London not to compete for gold medals but to put up electronic road signs. Trevor and Troy Wollard bagged an Olympic Games supply contract when they attended a trade show in Amsterdam.

The $2-million supply contract is expected to boost business for Bartco, the company established by the brothers in 2004. Trevor Wollard actually started in 1995 an enterprise that leased signage, bollards and other equipment for companies that need to close roads or divert traffic.

Troy joined him in the business when he became 18. He used his knowledge in electronics to meet the growing customer demand for electronic signs which eventually led to the shift in products and services although the brothers retained the Bartco business name.

The Wollards, who have the electronic signs initially made in their family backyard in Ararat, southwest Victoria, claims that Bartco was the first enterprise to introduce the full matrix LED screen that displays pictures and graphics. The signs are controlled through text messages or Web sites.

Part of their expansion plans was their relocation to Melbourne, but they still retained the 30 people in Ararat to produce the signs which would soon help direct traffic flow in London.

Because of the $2-million London Olympic supply contract, Bartco hired 20 more people to help produce the almost 200 portable signs ordered by the Summer Games organisers.

"Our signs were chosen because of the versatility and advanced features, which can be used to manage the network as required and act as a directional aide," the elder Mr Wollard told Ararat Advertiser.

He added that Bartco's Variable Message Signs colour technology is actually being used the past 18 months on major United Kingdom motorways by the Met Police and at Heathrow Airport through its UK partner, Colour Mobile VHS.

Besides UK, Bartco's VMS colour technology - which tapped solar power in 2010 -is now also being used in the U.S., United Arab Emirates, Brazil and parts of eastern Europe.