A system for producing glass articles from glass tubing comprising: a converter including a plurality of processing stations comprising at least one heating station, at least one forming station, and a separating station, wherein the converter is operable to index a glass tube through the plurality of processing stations; and a gas flow system comprising: a manifold fluidly coupleable to a gas source; and a plurality of glass tube connectors, each glass tube connector removably coupleable to a distal end of the glass tube and fluidly coupled to the manifold by a conduit; wherein for at least one of the glass tube connectors, the gas flow system is operable to pass a gas from the manifold, through the conduit, through the glass tube connector, and into the glass tube through the distal end of the glass tube, and wherein passing the gas into the distal end of the glass tube produces a flow of gas adjacent to a proximal end of the glass tube, the flow of gas operable to remove at least a portion of an atmosphere from an interior of the glass tube and reduce contamination of an inner surface of the glass tube by alkali released from the glass tube; wherein the separating station is a thermal separating station and the flow of gas adjacent to the proximal end of the glass tube is sufficient to open a meniscus of glass formed at the proximal end of the glass tube during thermal separation.. a converter including a plurality of processing stations comprising at least one heating station, at least one forming station, and a separating station, wherein the converter is operable to index a glass tube through the plurality of processing stations; and a gas flow system comprising: a manifold fluidly coupleable to a gas source; and a plurality of glass tube connectors, each glass tube connector removably coupleable to a distal end of the glass tube and fluidly coupled to the manifold by a conduit; wherein for at least one of the glass tube connectors, the gas flow system is operable to pass a gas from the manifold, through the conduit, through the glass tube connector, and into the glass tube through the distal end of the glass tube, and wherein passing the gas into the distal end of the glass tube produces a flow of gas adjacent to a proximal end of the glass tube, the flow of gas operable to remove at least a portion of an atmosphere from an interior of the glass tube and reduce contamination of an inner surface of the glass tube by alkali released from the glass tube; wherein the separating station is a thermal separating station and the flow of gas adjacent to the proximal end of the glass tube is sufficient to open a meniscus of glass formed at the proximal end of the glass tube during thermal separation.. a manifold fluidly coupleable to a gas source; and a plurality of glass tube connectors, each glass tube connector removably coupleable to a distal end of the glass tube and fluidly coupled to the manifold by a conduit; wherein for at least one of the glass tube connectors, the gas flow system is operable to pass a gas from the manifold, through the conduit, through the glass tube connector, and into the glass tube through the distal end of the glass tube, and wherein passing the gas into the distal end of the glass tube produces a flow of gas adjacent to a proximal end of the glass tube, the flow of gas operable to remove at least a portion of an atmosphere from an interior of the glass tube and reduce contamination of an inner surface of the glass tube by alkali released from the glass tube; wherein the separating station is a thermal separating station and the flow of gas adjacent to the proximal end of the glass tube is sufficient to open a meniscus of glass formed at the proximal end of the glass tube during thermal separation.. <EOS>