Systems for producing articles from glass tube include a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The systems further include a gas flow system or a suction system for producing a flow of gas through the glass tube during one or more heating, forming, separating or piercing operations. The flow of gas through the glass tube produced by the gas flow system or suction system may be sufficient to evacuate or purge volatile constituents of the glass from the glass tube and/or pierce a meniscus formed on the glass tube during separation, thereby reducing the Surface Hydrolytic Response (SHR) of the interior surface of the glass tube and articles made therefrom.

A half-cell for measuring a pH value of a measuring medium is disclosed including a tube-shaped carrier element and a pH-sensitive glass membrane connected to an end section of the carrier element. At least the end section of the carrier element includes a zirconia-containing and/or alumina-containing ceramic. A method for manufacturing a half-cell for pH value measurement and a potentiometric sensor are further disclosed.

Systems for producing articles from glass tube include a converter having a base with a plurality of processing stations and a turret moveable relative to the base. The turret indexes a plurality of holders for holding the glass tubes successively through the processing stations. The systems further include a gas flow system or a suction system for producing a flow of gas through the glass tube during one or more heating, forming, separating or piercing operations. The flow of gas through the glass tube produced by the gas flow system or suction system may be sufficient to evacuate or purge volatile constituents of the glass from the glass tube and/or pierce a meniscus formed on the glass tube during separation, thereby reducing the Surface Hydrolytic Response (SHR) of the interior surface of the glass tube and articles made therefrom.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A method for the manufacture of a glass tube with closed ends includes: providing a glass tube with open ends including a first open end and a second open end; closing the first open end of the glass tube while introducing a gas into the glass tube through the second open end; opening a ventilation hole in a wall of the glass tube near one of the open ends; and closing the second open end.

An apparatus for the automated production of glass assemblies includes: a turning machine with at least two spindles, which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation and which each have a workpiece holder, wherein the workpiece holders are arranged opposite one another; one or more gas burners or lasers fixed on a first tool carriage which is movable in parallel and/or perpendicularly to the axis of rotation; one or more drives for driving a rotational movement of the spindles and a movement of the first tool carriage; a pressure module including a pump device at least one working cylinder for applying a pressure to an inner tube and/or to a space between the inner tube and an outer tube; and a control unit configured to control the burners or lasers, one or more drives, the first tool carriage and the pressure module.