Author

David Schmidt

HWS founding family, third generation

David Schmidt belongs to the third generation of the family behind HWS Labortechnik. A grandson of the founder, he grew up close to the Mainz workshop where HWS has developed and hand-crafted borosilicate glass apparatus since 1941. Through his work with the HWS team, he helps carry the family's eight decades of accumulated experience in laboratory glass technology forward.

Existing glass reactor being retrofitted with upgraded components

Glass Reactor Upgrades: Retrofitting vs Buying New Systems

Author: HWS Mainz Laboratory Engineering Team Published by HWS Mainz – Specialists in Custom Glass Reactor Systems for Laboratories and…

2025.11.03 • 7:43 read

Custom Reactor Design

Borosilicate 3.3 glass reactor vessel in a laboratory setting

Material Matters: Why Borosilicate Glass 3.3 Still Reigns in Modern Laboratory Reactors

Author: HWS Mainz Laboratory Engineering Team Published by HWS Mainz – Experts in Custom Glass Reactor Systems for Research and…

2025.10.29 • 16:23 read

Borosilicate & Materials

Transparent glass bioreactor used in biotechnology process development

Glass Bioreactors: Transparent Tools Driving Innovation in Modern Biotechnology

In biotechnology, everything revolves around control. A few degrees too warm, a pH slightly off, or oxygen running low —…

2025.10.09 • 9:44 read

Pharmaceutical & GMP

Bench-scale and pilot-scale glass reactors shown together to illustrate scale-up

From Bench to Pilot: Scaling Up Glass Reactor Design

In chemical R&D, moving from discovery to development is not just a bigger flask. It’s a leap across scales —…

2025.10.05 • 9:26 read

Pilot Plants & Scale-Up

Quick-change glass reactor accessories that shorten vessel changeover time

Minimizing Downtime in R&D Reactors: Smarter Accessories for Faster Changeovers

Every researcher knows the feeling: the reaction is complete, the next experiment is waiting, but the reactor isn’t ready. Hoses…

2025.09.28 • 9:10 read

Stirring, Valves & Dosing

Smart glass reactor system with digital control for R&D laboratories

Smart Reactors: The Next Frontier for R&D Glass Reactor Systems

Glass reactors have long been the beating heart of chemical research. Their transparency, chemical resistance, and modularity make them indispensable…

2025.09.24 • 15:10 read

Automation & Digital

Lab-scale distillation setup for recovering solvent in pharmaceutical R&D

Lab-Scale Distillation for Solvent Recovery: Designing a System That Delivers Reusable Solvent

A solvent-recovery system should be specified from the quality the recovered solvent must meet for reuse. Separation method, vacuum strategy,…

2025.09.08 • 10:53 read

Separation & Solvent Recovery

Multi-step synthesis setup combining reaction, separation and drying in one train

Mastering Multistep Synthesis: Integrating Separation and Drying in One Setup

Mastering Multistep Synthesis: Integrating Separation and Drying in One Setup Pharmaceutical and fine chemical researchers often find multistep synthesis complicated.…

2025.09.03 • 15:29 read

Separation & Solvent Recovery

Glass reactor used for pharmaceutical synthesis scale-up

From Flask to Floor: Overcoming Scale-Up Challenges in Pharmaceutical Synthesis

Scaling up chemical synthesis from laboratory experiments to pilot-plant or industrial production is quite a challenge in pharmaceutical R&D. While…

2025.08.28 • 15:26 read

Pharmaceutical & GMP Pilot Plants & Scale-Up

AI-assisted reaction monitoring alongside a laboratory glass reactor

AI-Assisted Reaction Monitoring: Smarter Synthesis in Glass Reactors

Glass reactors are essential tools in research labs for developing chemical processes. These transparent vessels allow researchers to mix reagents,…

2025.07.18 • 10:51 read

Automation & Digital