Premium handcrafted lighting in minimalist design for art galleries, museums, and private collections – that's the hallmark of betec, the Dachau-based lighting manufacturer. For 42 years, the "Clarus" picture light has been illuminating fine art. Originally developed by founder Horst Lettenmayer for Munich's Haus der Kunst, this fixture has itself achieved artistic status: in 1987, Munich's Higher Regional Court awarded it "art protection" – meaning it cannot be imitated. Equipped with cutting-edge lighting technology, its refined design remains coveted today, as distinctive as it is understated. Densely packed LEDs form a horizontal light band mounted on two elegantly curved brass tubes, enveloping valuable paintings in a warm glow that lets their true beauty emerge.

Betec fixtures illuminate the Monaco Casino, light the collections aboard Putin's yacht, and grace Balmoral Castle in Scotland – you won't find them in any showroom or home improvement store. Each piece is handcrafted in Dachau's workshop only after an order is placed, often customized to the client's exact specifications. Working in the time-honored tradition of metalworking, the team of 14 craftspeople – precision engineers, polishers, and electricians – carefully source materials before cutting, bending, turning, and polishing each component. The lamp bodies come in finishes ranging from polished brass and chrome to brushed or polished nickel. Every piece receives meticulous attention: electroplating is performed at a medical instrument facility, all lacquers are hand-applied and fired at 180°C. For those seeking ultimate luxury, betec offers 24-carat gold plating in matte or gloss finishes, applied in the company's own plating bath – at two meters wide, the largest of its kind in Bavaria.

Beyond picture lighting, betec creates desk lamps and music stands for performers. The company recently outfitted seminar rooms and libraries at Munich University with task lighting. At 79, founder Lettenmayer – who leads the 1979-established company alongside his daughter Julia – brings a unique perspective: trained as both an electrical engineer and actor, he performed professionally throughout Germany for years. There's another claim to fame: for five decades, his face has appeared in the opening credits of the ARD crime series "Tatort," airing every Sunday evening.

www.betec.de

Photography Credits:

Betec Lighting AG

(Published in CUBE Munich 01|21)