Specifying Georg Bechter Licht: A Guide to System DOT 28
Who are Georg Bechter Licht?
Georg Bechter Licht designs and makes architectural lighting in Hittisau, in Austria's Bregenzerwald. Its founder, Georg Bechter, is an architect who also develops lighting. In the company's words, both come from the same attitude: understanding spaces before lighting them.
The collection goes well beyond downlights, with adjustable spots, wall washers, pendants in porcelain, timber and aluminium, sculptural plaster modules and linear lighting. Most of the work stays close to home: 85% of the company's value is created in the Bregenzerwald. The company holds Cradle to Cradle Certified Circularity Gold. Its luminaires are built to be repaired, and a buy-back scheme gives old ones a second life.
At the centre of the collection is System DOT 28, which turned 10 in 2026. This guide covers what makes it different, the decisions you'll make when you specify it, and how it's installed. We're the Australian distributor for Georg Bechter Licht, and our lighting specialists can help at every step.
System DOT 28: one system, 23,851 possibilities
Georg Bechter Licht sums it up in one line: one system, 23,851 possibilities. System DOT 28 sets a luminaire flush and frameless into almost any ceiling, leaving only a 28 mm point of light.
Most LED downlights sold in Australia today need a 90 mm cut-out. A DOT 28 opening is less than a third of that width, so the ceiling reads as one calm surface and the light does the work.
Every DOT 28 is two parts that click together:
- A mounting module made for the ceiling material: plasterboard, plaster or render, exposed concrete, timber, or an independent trim for any panel.
- A luminaire: a downlight, an adjustable spot, a wall washer, a semi-recessed cone or a pendant.
The two meet at one 28 mm bayonet, so the same ceiling detail can hold a downlight in one room and a pendant in the next. The luminaire also comes out from below for maintenance, without touching the ceiling.
Light is space.
Georg Bechter Licht
The luminaires
Start with the effect you want in the room. Each luminaire below is described by its look and light, then its key figures; lens, dim-to-warm and glare options are compared in the next section. All are machined from solid aluminium, apart from the porcelain Cera and timber Cono, and all cool passively. Our Georg Bechter Licht configurator builds each one and adds it to a quote.
Dot 28 and Dot 28 Power
Dot 28 is the heart of the system. Set flush into the ceiling, the light point almost disappears, yet a single spot fills the room with soft, atmospheric light. Its reflectors cast a clean cone with fine shadows, bringing out the texture and depth of materials. Dot 28 Power keeps the same 28 mm point but adds a longer cooling element above the ceiling, giving almost twice the light for higher ceilings and larger rooms.
| Dot 28 | Dot 28 Power | |
|---|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm | 740 lm (990 lm in concrete with the extended cooling surface) |
| Power | 4 W | 8.5 W (12 W at 990 lm) |
| Beam | 35° or 55° | 35° or 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | Dot 28 Wet, 370 lm | Dot 28 Power Wet, 560 lm |
| Cable | – | – |
Dot 28 Cone and Dot 28 Power Cone
New for 2026, the Cone sits half in and half out of the ceiling. A slim upstand rises just below the surface while the milled cone recedes into it, so the luminaire reads as a fine relief rather than a hole. Setting the light back behind the cone also gives it stronger glare control. The Power Cone adds output for higher ceilings in the same form.
| Dot 28 Cone | Dot 28 Power Cone | |
|---|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm | 740 lm (990 lm in concrete with the extended cooling surface) |
| Power | 4 W | 8.5 W (12 W at 990 lm) |
| Beam | 35° or 55° | 35° or 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | Dot 28 Cone Wet, 370 lm | – |
| Cable | – | – |
Wall 28 and Wall 28 Power
Wall 28 turns the 28 mm point into a wall washer. Micro-facets developed with Bartenbach spread the light evenly from edge to edge, so the whole wall glows while the source is hard to find. It suits art walls, textured finishes and long corridors, and Wall 28 Power lights taller walls.
For even washing, keep ceiling height, wall distance and spacing at about 3:1:1. On a 3 m ceiling, that means luminaires about 1 m from the wall and 1 m apart. Grazing light shows any misalignment, so the modules need to be set precisely.
| Wall 28 | Wall 28 Power | |
|---|---|---|
| Light output | 350 lm | 470 lm |
| Power | 4.5 W | 7.5 W |
| Beam | Wall washer | Wall washer |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | – | – |
| Cable | – | – |
Sfere 28
Sfere 28 is a small sphere that turns and tilts out of the ceiling, so you can aim the light exactly where it's needed: a painting, a sculpture, a piece of furniture or an architectural detail. With an extra fitting it also mounts on a wall. It rotates 240° and tilts 70°.
| Sfere 28 | |
|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm (300 lm when mounted below 2.3 m) |
| Power | 4 W (3 W when mounted below 2.3 m) |
| Beam | 35° or 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | – |
| Cable | – |
Orb 28
Orb 28 is a minimal sphere of anodised aluminium on a fine braided cable. It hangs like a pendant but casts the same focused, controlled light as Dot 28. Because it clicks into the same bayonet, there's no canopy on the ceiling: just the cable disappearing into a 28 mm opening.
| Orb 28 | |
|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm |
| Power | 4 W |
| Beam | 35° or 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | – |
| Cable | 1.5 m black braided as standard, up to 4 m |
Mol 28
Mol 28 is a pendant shaped by soft curves. Its reflector sits back inside the milled aluminium body, leaving only a small, glowing light screen visible from below. The result is a gentle, glare-free light that sets a calm mood over a table or bench.
| Mol 28 | |
|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm (740 lm at the higher current) |
| Power | 4 W (8.5 W at the higher current) |
| Beam | 35° or 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K |
| Colour rendering | CRI 93 |
| Wet version (IP44) | – |
| Cable | 1.5 m black braided as standard, up to 4 m |
Cono 28
Cono 28 brings timber into the system. A slim conical pendant turned from natural oiled oak or black-stained ash, it shows off the grain of the wood while the DOT 28 optics below cast a crisp, wide beam.
| Cono 28 | |
|---|---|
| Light output | 400 lm |
| Power | 4 W |
| Beam | 55° |
| Colour temperature | 2700K |
| Colour rendering | – |
| Wet version (IP44) | – |
| Cable | 1.5 m black braided as standard, up to 4 m |
Cera 28 and Cera Pendula
Cera is hand-cast in Vienna from wafer-thin porcelain, so every piece is slightly different. The light passes through the porcelain and glows softly, like moonlight. The closed Cera 28 glows evenly in every direction; the half-open Cera C 28 keeps that glow and adds a brighter downward beam. Cera 28 sits semi-recessed in a ceiling or wall, while Cera Pendula hangs the same shades as pendants, beautiful in clusters over a void, a stair or a dining table. Both come in three sizes, 68, 96 and 125 mm across.
| Cera 28 | Cera Pendula | |
|---|---|---|
| Light output | 300–340 lm closed, 340–380 lm half-open, by size | 300–340 lm closed, 340–380 lm half-open, by size |
| Power | 4 W | 4 W |
| Beam | Diffuse glow (half-open adds a downlight) | Diffuse glow (half-open adds a downlight) |
| Colour temperature | 2700K | 2700K |
| Colour rendering | – | – |
| Wet version (IP44) | – | – |
| Cable | – | 1.5 m black braided as standard, up to 4 m |
Balda 28 and Viso 28
Two components complete the system. Balda 28 is a flush ceiling outlet for pendants: the suspension and power pass through a 28 mm opening, so there's no surface-mounted canopy at all. It carries up to 10 kg, depending on the cable and the mounting module. Balda S 28 takes a steel suspension rope only.
Viso 28 is a DALI-2 sensor in the same 28 mm format. It sits flush beside the luminaires and detects motion and daylight, so the lighting can switch, dim or hold a constant level automatically. It can also control blinds and other devices on a DALI-2 network.
| Balda 28 | Viso 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Does | Flush outlet for pendants | Motion and light sensor |
| Load or modes | Up to 10 kg | Four modes, from motion control to constant light |
| Colours | Black, translucent or white | Black or white |
Finishes: every luminaire except Cera and Cono comes in total black, snow silver, gold, rosé, muscat bronze, kashmere gold and polar white.
Light and glare control
Once you've chosen a luminaire, a few choices shape its light: the beam, the colour, the output and how much of the source you see.
| Choice | Options | How to decide |
|---|---|---|
| Beam | 15° lens, 35° or 55° reflector | 15° for art and focused accents with a hard cut-off; 35° for most accent and general light; 55° for wider, softer coverage |
| Colour temperature | 2700K, 3000K or 4000K (CRI 93), or dim-to-warm 1800–2700K (CRI 96) | Dim-to-warm moves from working light to candlelight as you dim; it suits dining, hospitality and bedrooms |
| Output | Standard or Power | Standard for most rooms; Power for high ceilings and larger spaces |
| Wet areas | Standard or Wet (IP44) | Wet versions for bathrooms and other splash areas; your electrician confirms the zone |
| Finish | Seven colours | Match the ceiling to hide the luminaire, or contrast it to show it |
Glare control
DOT 28's reflectors already give a controlled, comfortable beam. For Dot 28 and Dot 28 Power you can go further with one of two rings, each with a different look by day:
| Ring | What you see | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Fade ring | Polar white with a total black centre. Switched off, the luminaire all but vanishes into a white ceiling; switched on, a fine point of light appears. | Living spaces and hospitality, where the ceiling should look untouched by day |
| Glare suppression ring | Total black anodised aluminium that hides the light source, so you see the light but not where it comes from. | Bedrooms, lounges, corridors and, with careful planning, computer workstations |
Both rings reach UGR below 10 with the 15° lens, below 19 at 35° and below 22 at 55°.
Allow for the trade-off.Either ring reduces light output by about 20% and adds 10 mm to the installation depth. Allow for both in your lighting calculations and void depths.
Glare control can also come from the luminaire itself. Dot 28 Cone sets its light back behind a milled edge, and Mol 28 recesses its reflector inside the body, so neither needs a ring.
What each luminaire offers
| Luminaire | 15° lens | Dim-to-warm | Fade ring or glare suppression ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dot 28 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dot 28 Power | – | – | Yes |
| Dot 28 Cone, Dot 28 Power Cone | – | – | Glare control built in |
| Wall 28, Wall 28 Power | – | – | – |
| Sfere 28 | Yes | Yes | – |
| Orb 28 | Yes | Yes | – |
| Mol 28 | Yes | Yes | – |
| Cono 28 | – | – | – |
| Cera 28, Cera C 28 | – | Yes | – |
| Cera Pendula, Cera C Pendula | – | Yes | – |
Dim-to-warm can't be combined with the 15° lens or with a Wet (IP44) version, and it reduces Cera's output by about 25%. Dot 28 Power Wet always comes with a fade ring or glare suppression ring.
Matching luminaires to modules
Every DOT 28 luminaire shares the same 28 mm bayonet, but not every luminaire suits every module. The logic is simple: each module belongs to one of three tiers, and once you know a module's tier, you know which luminaires it takes.
| Module tier | Modules | Takes |
|---|---|---|
| Every DOT 28 luminaire | Flush 28, Spackling insert 68–28, Drywall mounting ring 28, Drywall capsule 28, Concrete capsule 28, Plaster capsule 28, Clamping ring 28, Mounting ring 28 for wood | Everything, including Dot 28 Cone and Dot 28 Power Cone |
| Everything except Cone | Extro 28, Trim Rendel 28, Trim Flat 28, Trim Flat 68–28 | Everything except Dot 28 Cone and Dot 28 Power Cone |
| Core range only | Intro 28, Drop 28, Concrete capsule 20–28 (Intro), Concrete capsule 10–28 (Konus) | Dot 28, Dot 28 Power, Sfere 28, Orb 28, Mol 28, Cono 28, Cera Pendula, Balda 28 and Viso 28 |
The tiers follow the shape of each luminaire. Cone needs extra depth to set its cone back into the ceiling, so it goes only into the flush and capsule modules. The sculptural modules are shaped around a fully recessed light point, so the semi-recessed Cera 28, the Wall 28 wall washer and Cone don't suit them. One module sits outside the tiers: the twin Sinus 28 takes Sfere 28 only.
Compatibility at a glance
A few rules sit on top of the tiers:
- Heat. Power luminaires produce more heat and need room to lose it. In plasterboard and other lightweight ceilings, allow at least 1 litre of free air (about a 100 mm cube) around a standard luminaire and 5 litres (about a 170 mm cube) around a Power one. Drywall capsule 28 doesn't suit Power models. In concrete, add the extended cooling surface for the highest output. Never cover the cooling element with insulation.
- Weight. Pendant loads depend on the module: up to 0.5 kg in Clamping ring 28, 1 kg in Drywall mounting ring 28, 7 kg in Mounting ring 28 for wood, and 10 kg in most others.
- Finishes. The trims come in gold, total black or polar white, chosen separately from the luminaire. Mounting ring 28 for wood comes in the seven system colours.
Confirm final combinations in the configurator or with our team.
Mounting modules by ceiling material
The mounting module is chosen by what the ceiling is made of, and it decides how the light point looks: perfectly flush, framed by a fine ring, or shaped into the ceiling itself.
Plasterboard
Flush 28
A gypsum-fibre module jointed into the ceiling like another piece of board. The ceiling reads as one seamless surface with only the 28 mm opening showing, and Flush also suits shallow voids and awkward ceilings.
Good to know: 140 × 140 mm module, taped and filled at the joints, then painted with the ceiling. 60 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Drywall capsule 28
The same seamless look as Flush, with an enclosed housing behind the ceiling. It keeps connections tidy and insulation clear of the luminaire, and with conduit the ceiling can even be rewired later.
Good to know: fitted as the sheets go up. 135 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire except the Power models.
Spackling insert 68–28
A seamless finish for an existing ceiling. The insert threads into a standard 68 mm hole and is skimmed over, leaving just the 28 mm opening.
Good to know: 68 mm hole; adjusts to the skim coat from 0 to 15 mm. 70 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Drywall mounting ring 28
The simplest flush option: a ring screwed into a small hole and fixed from behind.
Good to know: 32 mm hole; needs access from above; not adjustable; pendants up to 1 kg. 60 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Exposed concrete, plaster and render
Concrete capsule 28
Cast into the slab, the capsule and its legs disappear completely. What's left is a crisp, chamfered 28 mm opening in the raw concrete.
Good to know: nailed to the formwork before the pour, with its formwork plug included. 130 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire. Add the extended cooling surface for Power models at full output.
Plaster capsule 28
For concrete finished with plaster or render. The capsule is cast into the slab, then adjusted to finish flush with the plaster, leaving a frameless 28 mm opening.
Good to know: adjusts to plaster from 0 to 15 mm thick. 130 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Timber
Clamping ring 28
Frameless in timber, with only a fine, precise shadow gap around the light point.
Good to know: 30 mm hole in timber or fibreboard panels 12.5–35 mm thick; threaded in from below with its built-in installation tool and depth stop; pendants up to 0.5 kg. 60 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Mounting ring 28 for wood
A fine anodised ring stays visible around the light point, framing it against the grain.
Good to know: 35 mm hole, drilled from below on site, in timber at least 18 mm thick; fixed with threaded pins. Available in the seven system colours. 60 mm installation depth; takes every luminaire.
Any panel, including retrofits
Trim Rendel 28
A knurled trim that's meant to be seen, with a crafted, characterful edge. It fits almost any ceiling, which makes it the go-to for retrofits.
Good to know: 38 mm hole in any panel 1–25 mm thick; a mini driver passes through the same hole. 50 mm installation depth. Takes every luminaire except Cone; trim in gold, total black or polar white.
Trim Flat 28 and Trim Flat 68–28
A flatter, more discreet trim. Trim Flat 68–28 is the same trim sized for the 68 mm holes common in older ceilings. Its larger body also works as a cooling surface, so Dot 28 can run brighter.
Good to know: 38 mm hole (Trim Flat 28) or 68 mm hole (Trim Flat 68–28) in any panel 1–25 mm thick; a driver passes through the same hole. 60 mm installation depth. Takes every luminaire except Cone; trim in gold, total black or polar white.
Sculptural modules
These shape the ceiling around the light, in plaster or in concrete.
Intro 28 and Extro 28 (plaster)
Intro curves the ceiling gently inward, drawing the light point back into it: calm and restrained. Extro does the opposite, swelling the ceiling outward so the light seems to fall into the room.
Good to know: Extro 28 has a 30 mm installation depth and takes every luminaire except Cone. Intro 28 has a 90 mm installation depth and takes the core range only.
Drop 28 and Sinus 28 (plaster)
Drop raises a soft, wave-like ridge around the light point. Sinus is the only twin module: two Sfere 28 spots in one flowing, organic curve.
Good to know: 50 mm (Drop 28) and 75 mm (Sinus 28) installation depth. Drop 28 takes the core range; Sinus 28 takes Sfere 28 only.
Concrete capsules 20–28 (Intro) and 10–28 (Konus)
Cast into the slab, these shape the concrete itself. Intro forms a smooth inward curve, like its plaster cousin; Konus forms a crisp conical recess that sets the luminaire back into the concrete.
Good to know: 150 mm (Concrete capsule 20–28) and 140 mm (Concrete capsule 10–28) installation depth; core range only. The Intro or Konus formwork plug is ordered separately.
Drivers
DOT 28 luminaires run on constant-current LED drivers, matched to each luminaire. There are two ways to place them.
- Remote. The driver sits in a serviceable spot, such as a cupboard, an access panel or the ceiling void, and runs one or more luminaires. Georg Bechter Licht recommends this wherever access allows, and it's the usual approach in new builds.
- Through the cut-out. With Trim Rendel 28, Trim Flat 28 and Trim Flat 68–28, a compact driver passes through the same hole as the luminaire and sits just above it. That suits retrofits and ceilings with no other access.
Drivers are available for simple switching or for dimming, including DALI-2. Our lighting specialists will recommend the right ones for your project.
Planning the control
Decide early, with your electrician, how the lighting will be switched and dimmed. It shapes how many drivers you need and where they go.
- What switches together. Every luminaire on one driver dims as one, so group them by zone: the dining pendant apart from the kitchen downlights, the wall washers apart from the general light.
- Switches and scenes. How many switches or preset scenes each room needs, and where they sit.
- Driver locations. Where each driver lives, and how it's reached later for service.
- The control system. Match the drivers to the dimmers or the DALI-2 system, so everything dims smoothly.
- Cable runs. Keep the distance between each driver and its luminaires within the driver's limits.
Talk it through before the ceiling closes.Your electrician confirms the final layout against Australian wiring rules, and our team can review your control plan with you.
How it's installed
The module goes in with the ceiling, and the luminaire clicks into its bayonet at the end. A protective cap keeps each module clean while the trades work around it.
| Ceiling | Installation | Who | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposed concrete | Concrete capsule 28 is nailed to the formwork with its plug and cast into the slab. Locking pins stop it floating; a marking helps align it. | Formworker, with the electrician | The capsule and its legs disappear; a chamfered 28 mm opening remains |
| Plaster or render over concrete | Plaster capsule 28 is set like the concrete capsule, then adjusted to the plaster thickness. | Electrician, then plasterer | A frameless 28 mm opening |
| Plasterboard, new work | Flush 28 or Drywall capsule 28 is fitted as the sheets go up, then jointed and painted with the ceiling. | Plasterer, with the electrician | A seamless ceiling |
| Plasterboard, existing | A 68 mm hole takes Spackling insert 68–28, which is screwed in and skimmed. A 32 mm hole takes Drywall mounting ring 28, fixed from behind. | Electrician and plasterer | Seamless, or flush with no adjustment |
| Timber | Drilled from below: 30 mm for Clamping ring 28, which threads in with its installation tool and depth stop; 35 mm for Mounting ring 28 for wood, fixed with threaded pins. | Carpenter or electrician | A shadow gap, or a fine visible ring |
| Any panel, retrofit | A 38 mm hole (68 mm for Trim Flat 68–28). The trim tightens from the front, and a compact driver can go through the same hole. | Electrician | A visible trim |
| Every type | The luminaire locks into the bayonet with Georg Bechter Licht's assembly pliers. | Electrician | – |
Order the system together.Specify and order luminaires and modules together, so the modules are on site when the ceiling trade needs them. A concrete capsule can't be added after the pour.
Because the luminaire comes out from below, it can be serviced, upgraded or swapped for a different DOT 28 luminaire later, without touching the ceiling. Georg Bechter Licht also offers repair kits for most luminaires.
Specification checklist
- Ceiling material, thickness and void depth confirmed for each area
- Luminaire chosen for each position, with its effect in mind
- Mounting module chosen and checked against the compatibility matrix
- Beam, colour temperature, output and finish chosen
- Glare control chosen: standard, fade ring, glare suppression ring or Cone
- Wet (IP44) versions for bathrooms and splash areas
- Enough free air allowed for Power luminaires, and cooling elements kept clear of insulation
- Pendant weights checked against the mounting module
- Switching groups, driver type and driver locations (remote or through the cut-out) agreed with the electrician
- Luminaires and modules ordered together, in time for the ceiling trade
Frequently asked questions
What size hole does a Georg Bechter Licht DOT 28 need?
The finished opening is always 28 mm. The hole you drill depends on the module: 30 mm for Clamping ring 28, 32 mm for Drywall mounting ring 28, 35 mm for Mounting ring 28 for wood, 38 mm for Trim Rendel 28 and Trim Flat 28, or 68 mm for Spackling insert 68–28 and Trim Flat 68–28. Flush modules and capsules are built into the ceiling as it's made.
Can I replace a 90 mm downlight with DOT 28?
Yes, with some patching. Most LED downlights in Australia use a 90 mm cut-out, larger than any DOT 28 module. Patch the old hole first, or plan a new position, then drill for a trim or spackling insert.
Can the luminaire be replaced after the ceiling is finished?
Yes. Every DOT 28 luminaire locks into its module with a bayonet and comes out from below. You can service it, upgrade it or swap in a different DOT 28 luminaire without patching the ceiling.
Where does the driver go?
Usually remote, in an accessible spot that serves a group of luminaires. With Trim Rendel 28 and the Trim Flat modules, a compact driver can go through the same hole as the light.
Can DOT 28 go into an exposed concrete ceiling?
Yes. Concrete capsules are fixed to the formwork and cast in with the slab, leaving a chamfered 28 mm opening. The Intro and Konus capsules shape the concrete around the light.
Are Georg Bechter Licht lights dimmable?
Yes, with a dimmable driver. Georg Bechter Licht offers dimmable drivers, including DALI-2, and our team will match them to your control system. Dim-to-warm (1800–2700K) is available on Dot 28, Sfere 28, Orb 28, Mol 28 and Cera.
Talk to us about Georg Bechter Licht
System DOT 28 rewards good planning, and our lighting specialists know it well. Get in touch for advice on luminaires, modules, glare control or drivers for your project.
When you're ready, build your luminaires in the Georg Bechter Licht configurator and add them to a quote. Sample kits can be viewed by appointment: ask your account manager to book a time. We don't post samples out.
Architects and designers: open a trade account for trade pricing and an account manager in your state.
This guide is general information based on Georg Bechter Licht's 2026 catalogue. Confirm products and combinations for your project with our team, and have your electrician confirm the installation against AS/NZS 3000.
