diff --git a/include/cantera/base/FactoryBase.h b/include/cantera/base/FactoryBase.h
index a6ea596e6f..511ab1cdc2 100644
--- a/include/cantera/base/FactoryBase.h
+++ b/include/cantera/base/FactoryBase.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 
 #include <vector>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include "cantera/base/ctexceptions.h"
 
 namespace Cantera
 {
@@ -53,6 +55,36 @@ class FactoryBase
     //! statically held list of Factories.
     static std::vector<FactoryBase*> s_vFactoryRegistry;
 };
+
+//! Factory class that supports registering functions to create objects
+//!
+//! Template arguments for the class are the base type created by the factory,
+//! followed by the types of any arguments which need to be passed to the
+//! functions used to create objects, e.g. arguments to the constructor.
+template <class T, typename ... Args>
+class Factory : public FactoryBase {
+public:
+    virtual ~Factory() {}
+
+    //! Create an object using the object construction function corresponding to
+    //! "name" and the provided constructor arguments
+    T* create(const std::string& name, Args... args) {
+        try {
+            return m_creators.at(name)(args...);
+        } catch (std::out_of_range&) {
+            throw CanteraError("Factory::create", "No such type: '{}'", name);
+        }
+    }
+
+    //! Register a new object construction function
+    void reg(const std::string& name, std::function<T*(Args...)> f) {
+        m_creators[name] = f;
+    }
+
+protected:
+    std::unordered_map<std::string, std::function<T*(Args...)>> m_creators;
+};
+
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/include/cantera/kinetics/FalloffFactory.h b/include/cantera/kinetics/FalloffFactory.h
index d9a91290ea..263d2bf380 100644
--- a/include/cantera/kinetics/FalloffFactory.h
+++ b/include/cantera/kinetics/FalloffFactory.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace Cantera
  *
  * @ingroup falloffGroup
  */
-class FalloffFactory : public FactoryBase
+class FalloffFactory : public Factory<Falloff>
 {
 public:
     /**
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class FalloffFactory : public FactoryBase
     static FalloffFactory* s_factory;
 
     //! default constructor, which is defined as private
-    FalloffFactory() {}
+    FalloffFactory();
 
     //!  Mutex for use when calling the factory
     static std::mutex falloff_mutex;
diff --git a/include/cantera/kinetics/KineticsFactory.h b/include/cantera/kinetics/KineticsFactory.h
index 92bf2b1523..ffd476b79b 100644
--- a/include/cantera/kinetics/KineticsFactory.h
+++ b/include/cantera/kinetics/KineticsFactory.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class UnknownKineticsModel : public CanteraError
 /**
  * Factory for kinetics managers.
  */
-class KineticsFactory : public FactoryBase
+class KineticsFactory : public Factory<Kinetics>
 {
 public:
     static KineticsFactory* factory() {
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class KineticsFactory : public FactoryBase
 
 private:
     static KineticsFactory* s_factory;
-    KineticsFactory() {}
+    KineticsFactory();
     static std::mutex kinetics_mutex;
 };
 
diff --git a/include/cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h b/include/cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h
index a025d31889..1f8fe5bdda 100644
--- a/include/cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h
+++ b/include/cantera/thermo/ThermoFactory.h
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class UnknownThermoPhaseModel : public CanteraError
  * This class keeps a list of the known ThermoPhase classes, and is
  * used to create new instances of these classes.
  */
-class ThermoFactory : public FactoryBase
+class ThermoFactory : public Factory<ThermoPhase>
 {
 public:
     //! Static function that creates a static instance of the factory.
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ class ThermoFactory : public FactoryBase
     static ThermoFactory* s_factory;
 
     //! Private constructors prevents usage
-    ThermoFactory() {};
+    ThermoFactory();
 
     //! Decl for locking mutex for thermo factory singleton
     static std::mutex thermo_mutex;
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ inline ThermoPhase* newThermoPhase(const std::string& model,
     if (f == 0) {
         f = ThermoFactory::factory();
     }
-    return f->newThermoPhase(model);
+    return f->create(model);
 }
 
 //! Translate the eosType id into a string
diff --git a/include/cantera/transport/TransportBase.h b/include/cantera/transport/TransportBase.h
index f937a97fec..d7fe22242e 100644
--- a/include/cantera/transport/TransportBase.h
+++ b/include/cantera/transport/TransportBase.h
@@ -709,9 +709,7 @@ class Transport
      *                 specification of the collision integrals. defaults to no.
      * @param log_level Defaults to zero, no logging
      */
-    virtual void init(thermo_t* thermo, int mode=0, int log_level=0) {
-        throw NotImplementedError("Transport::init");
-    }
+    virtual void init(thermo_t* thermo, int mode=0, int log_level=0) {}
 
     //! Called by TransportFactory to set parameters.
     /*!
diff --git a/include/cantera/transport/TransportFactory.h b/include/cantera/transport/TransportFactory.h
index 565723e493..d4b98bc73f 100644
--- a/include/cantera/transport/TransportFactory.h
+++ b/include/cantera/transport/TransportFactory.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace Cantera
  *
  * @ingroup tranprops
  */
-class TransportFactory : public FactoryBase
+class TransportFactory : public Factory<Transport>
 {
 public:
     //! Return a pointer to a TransportFactory instance.
@@ -104,8 +104,7 @@ class TransportFactory : public FactoryBase
      * @param thermo    ThermoPhase object
      * @param log_level log level
      */
-    virtual Transport*
-    newTransport(thermo_t* thermo, int log_level=0);
+    virtual Transport* newTransport(thermo_t* thermo, int log_level=0);
 
     //! Initialize an existing transport manager for liquid phase
     /*!
@@ -242,6 +241,9 @@ class TransportFactory : public FactoryBase
     //! Mapping between between the string name for a
     //! liquid mixture transport property model and the integer name.
     std::map<std::string, LiquidTranMixingModel> m_LTImodelMap;
+
+    //! Models included in this map are initialized in CK compatibility mode
+    std::map<std::string, bool> m_CK_mode;
 };
 
 //! Create a new transport manager instance.
diff --git a/include/cantera/zeroD/ReactorFactory.h b/include/cantera/zeroD/ReactorFactory.h
index 9626689d2c..27ef227974 100644
--- a/include/cantera/zeroD/ReactorFactory.h
+++ b/include/cantera/zeroD/ReactorFactory.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 namespace Cantera
 {
 
-class ReactorFactory : FactoryBase
+class ReactorFactory : public Factory<ReactorBase>
 {
 public:
     static ReactorFactory* factory() {
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class ReactorFactory : FactoryBase
 private:
     static ReactorFactory* s_factory;
     static std::mutex reactor_mutex;
-    ReactorFactory() {}
+    ReactorFactory();
 };
 
 inline ReactorBase* newReactor(const std::string& model,
diff --git a/src/kinetics/FalloffFactory.cpp b/src/kinetics/FalloffFactory.cpp
index b40fdc2422..83be16e669 100644
--- a/src/kinetics/FalloffFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/kinetics/FalloffFactory.cpp
@@ -12,22 +12,22 @@ namespace Cantera
 FalloffFactory* FalloffFactory::s_factory = 0;
 std::mutex FalloffFactory::falloff_mutex;
 
+FalloffFactory::FalloffFactory()
+{
+    reg("Simple", []() { return new Falloff(); });
+    reg("Troe", []() { return new Troe(); });
+    reg("SRI", []() { return new SRI(); });
+}
+
 Falloff* FalloffFactory::newFalloff(int type, const vector_fp& c)
 {
-    Falloff* f;
-    switch (type) {
-    case SIMPLE_FALLOFF:
-        f = new Falloff();
-        break;
-    case TROE_FALLOFF:
-        f = new Troe();
-        break;
-    case SRI_FALLOFF:
-        f = new SRI();
-        break;
-    default:
-        return 0;
-    }
+    static const std::unordered_map<int, std::string> types {
+        {SIMPLE_FALLOFF, "Simple"},
+        {TROE_FALLOFF, "Troe"},
+        {SRI_FALLOFF, "SRI"}
+    };
+
+    Falloff* f = create(types.at(type));
     f->init(c);
     return f;
 }
diff --git a/src/kinetics/KineticsFactory.cpp b/src/kinetics/KineticsFactory.cpp
index ebcc446887..7b9921388b 100644
--- a/src/kinetics/KineticsFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/kinetics/KineticsFactory.cpp
@@ -37,22 +37,17 @@ Kinetics* KineticsFactory::newKinetics(XML_Node& phaseData,
     return k;
 }
 
+KineticsFactory::KineticsFactory() {
+    reg("none", []() { return new Kinetics(); });
+    reg("gaskinetics", []() { return new GasKinetics(); });
+    reg("interface", []() { return new InterfaceKinetics(); });
+    reg("edge", []() { return new EdgeKinetics(); });
+    reg("aqueouskinetics", []() { return new AqueousKinetics(); });
+}
+
 Kinetics* KineticsFactory::newKinetics(const string& model)
 {
-    string lcmodel = lowercase(model);
-    if (lcmodel == "none") {
-        return new Kinetics();
-    } else if (lcmodel == "gaskinetics") {
-        return new GasKinetics();
-    } else if (lcmodel == "interface") {
-        return new InterfaceKinetics();
-    } else if (lcmodel == "edge") {
-        return new EdgeKinetics();
-    } else if (lcmodel == "aqueouskinetics") {
-        return new AqueousKinetics();
-    } else {
-        throw UnknownKineticsModel("KineticsFactory::newKinetics", model);
-    }
+    return create(lowercase(model));
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp b/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
index de78f59c01..6b4443646c 100644
--- a/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/ThermoFactory.cpp
@@ -77,71 +77,39 @@ static int _itypes[] = {cIdealGas, cIncompressible,
                         cRedlichKwongMFTP, cRedlichKwongMFTP, cMaskellSolidSolnPhase
                        };
 
-ThermoPhase* ThermoFactory::newThermoPhase(const std::string& model)
+ThermoFactory::ThermoFactory()
 {
-    int ieos=-1;
-
-    for (int n = 0; n < ntypes; n++) {
-        if (model == _types[n]) {
-            ieos = _itypes[n];
-            break;
-        }
-    }
+    reg("IdealGas", []() { return new IdealGasPhase(); });
+    reg("Incompressible", []() { return new ConstDensityThermo(); });
+    reg("Surface", []() { return new SurfPhase(); });
+    reg("Edge", []() { return new EdgePhase(); });
+    reg("Metal", []() { return new MetalPhase(); });
+    reg("StoichSubstance", []() { return new StoichSubstance(); });
+    reg("PureFluid", []() { return new PureFluidPhase(); });
+    reg("LatticeSolid", []() { return new LatticeSolidPhase(); });
+    reg("Lattice", []() { return new LatticePhase(); });
+    reg("HMW", []() { return new HMWSoln(); });
+    reg("IdealSolidSolution", []() { return new IdealSolidSolnPhase(); });
+    reg("DebyeHuckel", []() { return new DebyeHuckel(); });
+    reg("IdealMolalSolution", []() { return new IdealMolalSoln(); });
+    reg("IdealGasVPSS", []() { return new IdealSolnGasVPSS(); });
+    reg("IdealSolnVPSS", []() { return new IdealSolnGasVPSS(); });
+    reg("MineralEQ3", []() { return new MineralEQ3(); });
+    reg("MetalSHEelectrons", []() { return new MetalSHEelectrons(); });
+    reg("Margules", []() { return new MargulesVPSSTP(); });
+    reg("PhaseCombo_Interaction", []() { return new PhaseCombo_Interaction(); });
+    reg("IonsFromNeutralMolecule", []() { return new IonsFromNeutralVPSSTP(); });
+    reg("FixedChemPot", []() { return new FixedChemPotSSTP(); });
+    reg("MolarityIonicVPSSTP", []() { return new MolarityIonicVPSSTP(); });
+    reg("Redlich-Kister", []() { return new RedlichKisterVPSSTP(); });
+    reg("RedlichKwong", []() { return new RedlichKwongMFTP(); });
+    reg("RedlichKwongMFTP", []() { return new RedlichKwongMFTP(); });
+    reg("MaskellSolidSolnPhase", []() { return new MaskellSolidSolnPhase(); });
+}
 
-    switch (ieos) {
-    case cIdealGas:
-        return new IdealGasPhase;
-    case cIncompressible:
-        return new ConstDensityThermo;
-    case cSurf:
-        return new SurfPhase;
-    case cEdge:
-        return new EdgePhase;
-    case cIdealSolidSolnPhase:
-        return new IdealSolidSolnPhase();
-    case cMargulesVPSSTP:
-        return new MargulesVPSSTP();
-    case cRedlichKisterVPSSTP:
-        return new RedlichKisterVPSSTP();
-    case cMolarityIonicVPSSTP:
-        return new MolarityIonicVPSSTP();
-    case cPhaseCombo_Interaction:
-        return new PhaseCombo_Interaction();
-    case cIonsFromNeutral:
-        return new IonsFromNeutralVPSSTP();
-    case cMetal:
-        return new MetalPhase;
-    case cStoichSubstance:
-        return new StoichSubstance;
-    case cFixedChemPot:
-        return new FixedChemPotSSTP;
-    case cMineralEQ3:
-        return new MineralEQ3();
-    case cMetalSHEelectrons:
-        return new MetalSHEelectrons();
-    case cLatticeSolid:
-        return new LatticeSolidPhase;
-    case cLattice:
-        return new LatticePhase;
-    case cPureFluid:
-        return new PureFluidPhase;
-    case cRedlichKwongMFTP:
-        return new RedlichKwongMFTP;
-    case cHMW:
-        return new HMWSoln;
-    case cDebyeHuckel:
-        return new DebyeHuckel;
-    case cIdealMolalSoln:
-        return new IdealMolalSoln;
-    case cVPSS_IdealGas:
-        return new IdealSolnGasVPSS;
-    case cIdealSolnGasVPSS_iscv:
-        return new IdealSolnGasVPSS;
-    case cMaskellSolidSolnPhase:
-        return new MaskellSolidSolnPhase;
-    default:
-        throw UnknownThermoPhaseModel("ThermoFactory::newThermoPhase", model);
-    }
+ThermoPhase* ThermoFactory::newThermoPhase(const std::string& model)
+{
+    return create(model);
 }
 
 std::string eosTypeString(int ieos, int length)
diff --git a/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.cpp b/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.cpp
index ac25db771b..bd1761ca59 100644
--- a/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.cpp
@@ -183,6 +183,25 @@ static void getVPSSMgrTypes(std::vector<XML_Node*> & spDataNodeList,
     }
 }
 
+VPSSMgrFactory::VPSSMgrFactory()
+{
+    reg("idealgas",
+        [] (VPStandardStateTP* tp, MultiSpeciesThermo* st) {
+            return new VPSSMgr_IdealGas(tp, st); });
+    reg("constvol",
+        [] (VPStandardStateTP* tp, MultiSpeciesThermo* st) {
+            return new VPSSMgr_ConstVol(tp, st); });
+    reg("water_constvol",
+        [] (VPStandardStateTP* tp, MultiSpeciesThermo* st) {
+            return new VPSSMgr_Water_ConstVol(tp, st); });
+    reg("water_hkft",
+        [] (VPStandardStateTP* tp, MultiSpeciesThermo* st) {
+            return new VPSSMgr_Water_HKFT(tp, st); });
+    reg("general",
+        [] (VPStandardStateTP* tp, MultiSpeciesThermo* st) {
+            return new VPSSMgr_General(tp, st); });
+}
+
 void VPSSMgrFactory::deleteFactory()
 {
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(vpss_species_thermo_mutex);
@@ -230,7 +249,7 @@ VPSSMgr* VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr(VPStandardStateTP* vp_ptr,
         }
         if (thermoNode.hasChild("variablePressureStandardStateManager")) {
             const XML_Node& vpssNode = thermoNode.child("variablePressureStandardStateManager");
-            vpssManager = vpssNode["model"];
+            vpssManager = lowercase(vpssNode["model"]);
         }
     }
 
@@ -241,8 +260,7 @@ VPSSMgr* VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr(VPStandardStateTP* vp_ptr,
     // Next, if we have specific directions, use them to get the VPSSSMgr object
     // and return immediately
     if (vpssManager != "") {
-        VPSSMgr_enumType type = VPSSMgr_StringConversion(vpssManager);
-        return newVPSSMgr(type, vp_ptr);
+        return create(vpssManager, vp_ptr, spth);
     }
 
     // Handle special cases based on the VPStandardState types
@@ -292,27 +310,15 @@ VPSSMgr* VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr(VPStandardStateTP* vp_ptr,
 VPSSMgr* VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr(VPSSMgr_enumType type,
                                     VPStandardStateTP* vp_ptr)
 {
+    static unordered_map<int, std::string> types {
+        {cVPSSMGR_IDEALGAS, "idealgas"},
+        {cVPSSMGR_CONSTVOL, "constvol"},
+        {cVPSSMGR_WATER_CONSTVOL, "water_constvol"},
+        {cVPSSMGR_WATER_HKFT, "water_hkft"},
+        {cVPSSMGR_GENERAL, "general"}
+    };
     MultiSpeciesThermo& spthermoRef = vp_ptr->speciesThermo();
-    switch (type) {
-    case cVPSSMGR_IDEALGAS:
-        return new VPSSMgr_IdealGas(vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
-    case cVPSSMGR_CONSTVOL:
-        return new VPSSMgr_ConstVol(vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
-    case cVPSSMGR_PUREFLUID:
-        throw CanteraError("VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr",
-                           "unimplemented");
-    case cVPSSMGR_WATER_CONSTVOL:
-        return new VPSSMgr_Water_ConstVol(vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
-    case cVPSSMGR_WATER_HKFT:
-        return new VPSSMgr_Water_HKFT(vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
-    case cVPSSMGR_GENERAL:
-        return new VPSSMgr_General(vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
-    case cVPSSMGR_UNDEF:
-    default:
-        throw CanteraError("VPSSMgrFactory::newVPSSMgr",
-            "Specified VPSSMgr model {} does not match any known type.", type);
-        return 0;
-    }
+    return create(types.at(type), vp_ptr, &spthermoRef);
 }
 
 // I don't think this is currently used
diff --git a/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.h b/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.h
index f1ab751716..85dc22ba04 100644
--- a/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.h
+++ b/src/thermo/VPSSMgrFactory.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class UnknownVPSSMgrModel: public CanteraError
  *
  * @ingroup mgrpdssthermocalc
  */
-class VPSSMgrFactory : public FactoryBase
+class VPSSMgrFactory : public Factory<VPSSMgr, VPStandardStateTP*, MultiSpeciesThermo*>
 {
 public:
     //! Static method to return an instance of this class
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ class VPSSMgrFactory : public FactoryBase
 
     //! Constructor. This is made private, so that only the static
     //! method factory() can instantiate the class.
-    VPSSMgrFactory() {}
+    VPSSMgrFactory();
 };
 
 ////////////////////// Convenience functions ////////////////////
diff --git a/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp b/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
index 066b51cb62..5b10703d2a 100644
--- a/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/transport/TransportFactory.cpp
@@ -41,6 +41,16 @@ class TransportDBError : public CanteraError
 
 TransportFactory::TransportFactory()
 {
+    reg("", []() { return new Transport(); });
+    reg("None", []() { return new Transport(); });
+    reg("Mix", []() { return new MixTransport(); });
+    reg("Multi", []() { return new MultiTransport(); });
+    reg("CK_Mix", []() { return new MixTransport(); });
+    reg("CK_Multi", []() { return new MultiTransport(); });
+    reg("HighP", []() { return new HighPressureGasTransport(); });
+    m_CK_mode["CK_Mix"] = true;
+    m_CK_mode["CK_Multi"] = true;
+
     m_models["Mix"] = cMixtureAveraged;
     m_models["Multi"] = cMulticomponent;
     m_models["Solid"] = cSolidTransport;
@@ -173,39 +183,12 @@ LiquidTranInteraction* TransportFactory::newLTI(const XML_Node& trNode,
 Transport* TransportFactory::newTransport(const std::string& transportModel,
         thermo_t* phase, int log_level, int ndim)
 {
-    if (transportModel == "") {
-        return new Transport;
-    }
-
     vector_fp state;
     Transport* tr = 0, *gastr = 0;
     DustyGasTransport* dtr = 0;
     phase->saveState(state);
 
     switch (m_models[transportModel]) {
-    case None:
-        tr = new Transport;
-        break;
-    case cMulticomponent:
-        tr = new MultiTransport;
-        tr->init(phase, 0, log_level);
-        break;
-    case CK_Multicomponent:
-        tr = new MultiTransport;
-        tr->init(phase, CK_Mode, log_level);
-        break;
-    case cMixtureAveraged:
-        tr = new MixTransport;
-        tr->init(phase, 0, log_level);
-        break;
-    case CK_MixtureAveraged:
-        tr = new MixTransport;
-        tr->init(phase, CK_Mode, log_level);
-        break;
-    case cHighP:
-        tr = new HighPressureGasTransport;
-        tr->init(phase, 0, log_level);
-        break;
     case cSolidTransport:
         tr = new SolidTransport;
         initSolidTransport(tr, phase, log_level);
@@ -229,7 +212,8 @@ Transport* TransportFactory::newTransport(const std::string& transportModel,
         tr->setThermo(*phase);
         break;
     default:
-        throw CanteraError("newTransport","unknown transport model: " + transportModel);
+        tr = create(transportModel);
+        tr->init(phase, m_CK_mode[transportModel], log_level);
     }
     phase->restoreState(state);
     return tr;
diff --git a/src/zeroD/ReactorFactory.cpp b/src/zeroD/ReactorFactory.cpp
index 0b96b4f190..f96379c31c 100644
--- a/src/zeroD/ReactorFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/zeroD/ReactorFactory.cpp
@@ -17,50 +17,39 @@ namespace Cantera
 ReactorFactory* ReactorFactory::s_factory = 0;
 std::mutex ReactorFactory::reactor_mutex;
 
-static int ntypes = 6;
-static string _types[] = {"Reservoir", "Reactor", "ConstPressureReactor",
-                          "FlowReactor", "IdealGasReactor",
-                          "IdealGasConstPressureReactor"
-                         };
-
-// these constants are defined in ReactorBase.h
-static int _itypes[] = {ReservoirType, ReactorType, ConstPressureReactorType,
-                        FlowReactorType, IdealGasReactorType,
-                        IdealGasConstPressureReactorType
-                       };
+ReactorFactory::ReactorFactory()
+{
+    reg("Reservoir", []() { return new Reservoir(); });
+    reg("Reactor", []() { return new Reactor(); });
+    reg("ConstPressureReactor", []() { return new ConstPressureReactor(); });
+    reg("FlowReactor", []() { return new FlowReactor(); });
+    reg("IdealGasReactor", []() { return new IdealGasReactor(); });
+    reg("IdealGasConstPressureReactor", []() { return new IdealGasConstPressureReactor(); });
+}
 
 ReactorBase* ReactorFactory::newReactor(const std::string& reactorType)
 {
-    int ir=-1;
-    for (int n = 0; n < ntypes; n++) {
-        if (reactorType == _types[n]) {
-            ir = _itypes[n];
-        }
-    }
-    return newReactor(ir);
+    return create(reactorType);
 }
 
 
 ReactorBase* ReactorFactory::newReactor(int ir)
 {
-    switch (ir) {
-    case ReservoirType:
-        return new Reservoir();
-    case ReactorType:
-        return new Reactor();
-    case FlowReactorType:
-        return new FlowReactor();
-    case ConstPressureReactorType:
-        return new ConstPressureReactor();
-    case IdealGasReactorType:
-        return new IdealGasReactor();
-    case IdealGasConstPressureReactorType:
-        return new IdealGasConstPressureReactor();
-    default:
+    static const unordered_map<int, string> types {
+        {ReservoirType, "Reservoir"},
+        {ReactorType, "Reactor"},
+        {ConstPressureReactorType, "ConstPressureReactor"},
+        {FlowReactorType, "FlowReactor"},
+        {IdealGasReactorType, "IdealGasReactor"},
+        {IdealGasConstPressureReactorType, "IdealGasConstPressureReactor"}
+    };
+
+    try {
+        return create(types.at(ir));
+    } catch (out_of_range&) {
         throw CanteraError("ReactorFactory::newReactor",
                            "unknown reactor type!");
     }
-    return 0;
 }
 
 }