TECHNICAL PROFILE · KERN IoP
Dr.-Ing. Laura Flórez
CEO of PM Tec Engineering and specialist in polymer processing. Her work spans research, consultancy, technical training and specialist publications, with an emphasis on injection moulding, plastics recycling, sustainability and digitalisation.
Education and professional background
Laura Flórez holds a degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Universidad de los Andes. She completed her doctorate in polymer processing at the Institute for Plastics Processing (IKV), RWTH Aachen University, researching the relationship between the morphology of structural polymer foams and their mechanical properties.
Her professional background combines simulation, consulting on injection-moulding processes, research, training and technical communication. Plastics Engineering describes her as a specialist with more than 25 years of editorial experience in the plastics industry, alongside research, training and consultancy focused on injection moulding and recycling.
Laura led ICIPC from 2023 to 2025 and remained involved in its technical activities as an external and senior adviser in 2026. She is also a member of the 2025–2026 Board of Directors of the Injection Molding Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).
Reference sources: SPE, Injection Molding Division, ICIPC y PM Tec Engineering.
Areas of expertise
- Injection moulding and process troubleshooting
- Polymer processing and properties
- Recycling and post-consumer resins
- Packaging ecodesign and circularity
- Digitalisation of plastics-processing operations
- Simulation and product design
- Technical training and knowledge transfer
- Technical communication for industry
Selected publications and books
DOCTORAL THESIS · 2011
Influence of the Foam Morphology on the Mechanical Properties of Structural Polymer Foams
Research at IKV on injection-moulded structural foams, cell morphology and mechanical behaviour. Published as IKV-Berichte, volume 214.
BOOK · 2010
Ciencia de Polímeros para Ingenieros
Spanish-language book on polymer structure, properties and processing for engineering applications, co-authored with Tim A. Osswald, Georg Menges and Jairo Flórez.
PLASTICS ENGINEERING · 2026
Digitalization to Improve Productivity
Analysis of digital tools for improving productivity, quality and decision-making in injection moulding.
Technical publications and recent work
Laura Flórez regularly contributes to Plastics Engineering published by SPE on plastics processing, digitalisation, simulation, additive manufacturing, recycling and sustainability. Her articles connect international developments with practical decisions in product design, process engineering and plastics manufacturing.
- Digitalization to Improve Productivity (2026)
- Digitalization and Simulation: Redefining What Is Possible (2026)
- Digitalization Makes LCA More Accurate and Traceable (2026)
- Getting PCR Right in Injection Molding (2025)
- Solving Jetting in Injection Molding (2025), featuring a case study and images from PM Tec Engineering.
She is also active in the SPE Injection Molding Division and continues to advise ICIPC on knowledge transfer and injection-moulding process optimisation.
REFERENCES
Selected sources
Flórez Sastre, L. F. (2011). Influence of the foam morphology on the mechanical properties of structural polymer foams (IKV-Berichte aus der Kunststoffverarbeitung, Vol. 214). Mainz.
Florez, L. (2025, July 25). Getting PCR right in injection molding. Plastics Engineering. https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/07/getting-pcr-right-in-injection-molding-009215/
Florez, L. (2026, March 27). Digitalization to improve productivity. Plastics Engineering. https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/03/digitalization-to-improve-productivity-010975/
Florez, L. (2026, April 3). Digitalization and simulation: Redefining what is possible. Plastics Engineering. https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/digitalization-and-simulation-redefining-what-is-possible-010981/
Injection Molding Division, Society of Plastics Engineers. (2026). Leadership: Board of Directors 2025–2026. https://www.injectionmoldingdivision.org/about-us/leadership/
Society of Plastics Engineers. (2026). Laura Flórez, Ph.D. https://www.4spe.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=5755
Articles on plastics processing and digitalisation
Laura Flórez has published on polymers, injection moulding, recycling, process control, productivity and sustainability. Explore her collection of articles in SPE and industrial journals, with summaries and bibliographic references.