DB Expo 2027 – Erba, Italy

What to expect in 2027

DB Expo 2027 is an international automotive exhibition focused on vehicle body repair, paintwork, detailing and Paintless Dent Repair (PDR). The event brings together automotive professionals, technicians, distributors, manufacturers and enthusiasts to discover new working techniques, tools, products and technologies.

The exhibition combines product displays with live demonstrations, professional training, competitions and networking. Its three main areas are bodywork, detailing and PDR, creating a specialist environment for professionals involved in vehicle restoration, repair, protection and cosmetic finishing.

Event dates

2027 schedule: March or April (Dates TBD)

The organizer has not yet published the official 2027 calendar. DB Expo has previously been held at Lariofiere in Erba, and the organizer’s current information continues to identify Lariofiere as the event location.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & event site

Venue: Lariofiere

Address: Viale Resegone, 22036 Erba (CO), Italy

Lariofiere is located in Erba between Como and Lecco and provides the exhibition infrastructure for DB Expo. The venue is positioned along the S.S. 639 and is approximately 15 km from Como and 15 km from Lecco, with Milan around 40 km away.

The exhibition site provides space for automotive equipment displays, live demonstrations, competitions, professional meetings and exhibitor stands.

Full event programme

DB Expo’s programme centres on the three major areas of the vehicle-care industry:

Body Shop: Professional solutions for vehicle body repair, painting, equipment and efficient repair cycles.

Detailing: Products, tools and techniques for vehicle cleaning, polishing, correction, surface protection and aesthetic restoration.

PDR: Paintless Dent Repair technology for repairing dents and hail damage without conventional repainting.

The programme also includes product demonstrations, specialist training, networking opportunities and international competitions designed to showcase technical skills.

Racing schedule & sessions

DB Expo does not feature conventional motorsport racing. Instead, its competitive programme consists of professional automotive-skill championships.

The PDR Championship includes individual and Tag Team formats, with competitors assessed on repair quality and working efficiency. Previous competition rules included qualification rounds, a final for leading individual competitors and a separate team competition.

A separate international polishing competition challenges detailers to correct demanding paint defects while working under time limits. Its previous format included elimination, semifinal and final stages.

Drivers, teams & competitors

Rather than racing drivers and motorsport teams, DB Expo features PDR technicians, detailers, bodywork specialists and automotive professionals.

PDR competitors: Individual technicians and Tag Teams compete in specialist dent-repair challenges.

Detailing competitors: Professional detailers participate in polishing challenges involving complex paint defects.

International specialists: The event attracts professionals and exhibitors from multiple countries, creating an international environment for exchanging techniques and business knowledge.

Cars & automotive highlights

The automotive displays focus on vehicles and vehicle surfaces used to demonstrate repair, detailing and protection techniques rather than racing performance.

Visitors can expect demonstrations involving:

• Paintless Dent Repair
• Hail-damage restoration
• Bodywork repair
• Automotive painting
• Paint correction
• Machine polishing
• Surface preparation
• Vehicle detailing
• Paint Protection Film (PPF)
• Automotive coatings and protective products
• Professional workshop tools and equipment

The event provides an opportunity to see professional techniques performed on vehicles and damaged body panels in a practical exhibition environment.

Ticket types

General visitor ticket: The standard DB Expo admission ticket provides access to the exhibition.

Competition ticket: Specialist competition registration can include event admission where specified by the individual competition.

For reference, the previous polishing competition offered an admission-plus-competition package for approximately $58, based on the organizer’s published previous-edition price. The 2027 visitor and competition prices have not yet been announced.

VIP & hospitality options

The organizer has not yet published specific VIP packages for the 2027 edition.

Professional visitors can nevertheless benefit from the event’s business-oriented environment, including direct contact with manufacturers, distributors, technicians and specialist brands. Exhibitors can also use the event to present products and develop relationships with potential customers and partners.

Specialist masterclasses have previously offered limited-capacity professional training with internationally recognised PDR technicians.

Exhibitors & automotive brands

DB Expo brings together international companies working in body repair, detailing, PDR, automotive tools, coatings, polishing and related technologies.

Brands featured in previous editions include:

• Kovax
• FLEX
• Pasqualetto
• Labocosmetica
• Colormax
• DRS
• Fast PDR Tools
• Dent Circle Tools
• Motip
• Spanesi
• Rupes
• Riwax
• Keco
• Milwaukee
• HailStar
• Metalmedic
• Laka Tools
• PDR Carbon Bars

The organizer continues to expand its international exhibitor network, while the final 2027 exhibitor list will be published as preparations progress.

Event rules

Visitors, exhibitors and competition participants must follow the rules established by DB Expo and Lariofiere.

Competition participants are subject to additional technical regulations. Previous PDR rules restricted actions such as drilling vehicles, sanding and machine polishing, while competitors were required to use approved repair techniques and work within specified competition conditions.

Access to competition work areas is controlled, with dedicated areas reserved for competitors and judges. Participants must also follow registration, equipment and safety requirements.

Accessibility

Lariofiere is a permanent exhibition centre with dedicated visitor facilities and transport connections. Visitors who require specific accessibility assistance should contact the venue or DB Expo before attending to confirm accessible entrances, parking and internal routes.

The venue’s location in Erba also provides rail and bus connections, allowing visitors to reach the exhibition without relying entirely on private vehicles.

Best races & attractions to see

Since DB Expo is not a motorsport event, the main attractions are professional competitions and live automotive demonstrations.

PDR Championship: Watch technicians compete in precision dent-repair challenges involving artificially created vehicle damage.

Polishing Competition: See professional detailers work on scratches, sanding marks, swirls and other difficult paint defects under competition conditions.

PDR Masterclasses: Professional training sessions demonstrate advanced dent-repair techniques and complex damage restoration.

Exhibition stands: Explore tools, polishing systems, coatings, PDR equipment, bodywork products and detailing technologies directly from specialist brands.

Previous year’s highlights

The previous edition brought together more than 100 companies from around the world, with the exhibition focusing on bodywork, detailing and PDR. It also featured international PDR championships and a polishing competition.

One of the major highlights was the international PDR competition, which included both individual and Tag Team formats. The polishing competition added another competitive element, with detailers judged on the quality and efficiency of their paint correction work.

Product innovation was another major feature, with exhibitors using the exhibition to showcase new tools, materials, detailing products and automotive protection technologies.

Official tickets

The official DB Expo ticket system should be used for the 2027 edition once registration opens.

The organizer has not yet announced the 2027 general admission price. Previous specialist competition pricing can be used only as historical guidance and should not be treated as the confirmed 2027 visitor price.

The official website provides access to ticket information, competition registration, exhibitor information and event updates.

How to get there

By car: Lariofiere is located along S.S. 639 Como–Lecco. From Como and Lecco, visitors can follow the S.S. 639, while visitors from Milan can use the S.S. 36 before connecting towards Erba.

By train: Trenord operates the Milan Cadorna–Asso route with a stop at Erba. Visitors can also travel from Milan Centrale to Como San Giovanni and continue to Lariofiere by bus or car.

By air: The main airports serving the area are Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate and Bergamo Orio al Serio. The organizer estimates that each is approximately an hour by car from Lariofiere.

Public transport & parking

Train: Erba railway station provides a direct connection on the Trenord network from Milan Cadorna.

Bus: From Como, visitors can connect through Como Centrale and continue on the C40 Como–Lecco service, which stops at Lariofiere. Visitors coming from Lecco can use the C40 in the opposite direction.

Parking: Visitors arriving by car can use the parking facilities associated with Lariofiere. The venue’s location directly along the Como–Lecco road makes it accessible for visitors travelling from the surrounding Lombardy area.

Accommodation areas

Erba: The most convenient choice for visitors who want to stay close to Lariofiere.

Como: A broader accommodation base with hotels, restaurants and connections to the wider Lake Como area.

Lecco: Another practical option for visitors approaching the venue from the east.

Milan: Suitable for international visitors who want to combine DB Expo with a larger city stay and use the rail network to reach Erba.

Food & drink

Food and drink facilities are available within the Lariofiere exhibition environment during events, while Erba and the surrounding towns provide additional restaurants and cafés.

Previous DB Expo masterclass information specifically noted that participants could use the fair’s bar or restaurant independently during breaks. Visitors attending professional training or competitions should check the latest venue food-service arrangements before travelling.

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