Work takes place on site of a VeroTouch 3D printed home in Buena Vista. VeroTouch courtesy photo.
Salida technology company VeroTouch has debuted Colorado’s first 3D-printed home in Buena Vista. VeroTouch was established in 2023. The company uses all Colorado materials and has systems for recycling any concrete waste as well as a water reclamation system to reuse water during construction. Its spokesmen say it seeks to enhance manufacturing and construction efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness through its offering of comprehensive design, engineering, automation, and construction services.
This innovative company has also earned a spot in the 2024 cohort of the Chaffee County Ascent Accelerator program.
“We are thrilled to unveil our cutting-edge solutions to the vibrant Colorado community, setting new standards for excellence and efficiency in the industry. Positioned at the forefront of technological advancements, VeroTouch is poised to redefine the manufacturing and construction industries,” explains a VeroTouch press release.
VeroTouch 3D printed home. Photo by Carly Winchell.
The introduction of Colorado’s very first 3D-printed home in Buena Vista is a major milestone for the company. This unveiling underscores the company’s pioneering advancements in construction and additive manufacturing technology and positions VeroTouch as a leader in innovative housing solutions. They are now working on printing a second home next door to the first.
These residences resulted from a strategic partnership with South Main Developer Jed Selby.
“Nestled in the charming enclave of South Main, an idyllic new urbanism neighborhood along the banks of the Arkansas River, these homes symbolize a noteworthy achievement in VeroTouch’s unwavering dedication to cutting-edge building solutions,” is how the company’s press release references it.
VeroTouch began working with South Main to construct their first homes because South Main is forward thinking and provided VeroTouch the opportunity to build their processes, teams, and company and figure out how to take this new technology and scale it.
VeroTouch was recently accepted into the Chaffee County Ascent Accelerator Program, a move that validates the company’s potential contributions to local economic development. The program provides valuable resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, and compels those companies included in each cohort toward success.
Chaffee County EDC Executive Director Jake Rishavy recognized VeroTouch’s potential as he spoke about the company’s inclusion in the program.
“It’s rare and exciting in the economic development world to have the opportunity to support a company that is not only creating in-demand, high-paying jobs in a small mountain community but doing so while addressing one of our community’s most pressing needs—housing,” said Rishavy. “We’re eager to leverage what we believe is an unsurpassed network of business growth advisors in support of VeroTouch’s ongoing success in blending innovation and community impact.”
VeroTouch was co-founded by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Grant Hamel and Chief Engineer Officer Elliott Harvey, P.E. It derives its name from the Latin word “vërus,” which means truth. The company touts a steadfast commitment to science-based manufacturing and construction principles.
The addition of “touch” to “vero” emphasizes the company’s “dedication to streamlining processes, empowering individuals to tackle tasks requiring creativity, intuition, and a personal touch.”
VeroTouch Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Grant Hamel and Chief Engineer Officer Elliott Harvey, P.E. VeroTouch courtesy photo
The company also speaks of a strong sense of community, with a commitment to addressing societal challenges through cooperative efforts. It focuses on what it calls “the Focal 5” of housing, education, labor and wage gaps, sustainability, and eldercare.
The company actively seeks to mentor and empower the next generation of thinkers and builders. VeroTouch has partnerships with Salida and Buena Vista Schools and Colorado Mountain College and offers internship opportunities to high school and college students. VeroTouch also provides apprenticeships to help workers enter the field.
The VeroTouch team says they are “comprised of innovative doers and dreamers” and fosters a collaborative work environment by encouraging creativity and continuous learning.
Reinventing the Way Housing is Made
Ark Valley Voice managing editor Jan Wondra sat down to discuss VeroTouch with founders Hamel and Harvey over Zoom.
What should we know about VeroTouch?
“VeroTouch is a multi-faceted company,” replied Hamel, citing their internships, apprenticeships, and in-house education alongside their professional design, engineering, and construction capabilities.
“We are trying to figure out new ways to look at the construction industry through being a tech company in that industry. It’s kind of the last hurrah of what we’re doing as humans and it hasn’t had tech injected into it quite as much as some of the other industries. We found that to be something that we needed to bring our expertise in and say hey, ‘What can we do here to reduce the cost of the biggest burden on everybody in their lives?” explained Hamel.
Hamel continued, saying housing is the largest expense in most people’s lives and VeroTouch’s goal is to figure out how to use technology to reduce costs of housing by increasing efficiency in the construction industry. “We have to find a way to be more efficient and that’s what we’re doing,” said Hamel.
How much does a 3D Printed home cost?
Hamel explained that VeroTouch strives to innovate and discover how to build a better product overall. “What we’re doing is building a better product for the same market price. . . What the industry is full of is a lot of overpromise and under-delivery and we’re not interested in that.”
In addition to high insulation rating, A1 fire rating, Energy Star certification, and work toward LEED certification, Hamel cites more design freedom as a benefit of 3D-printed homes. Curves that can be produced by a 3D printer are expensive to replicate using traditional building methods. As long as designs meet the structural capabilities of the material and design, VeroTouch can do it.
3D-printed homes also have the benefit of more flexibility during the construction process with design necessarily occurring up front, details can be adjusted as they build the home from the bottom up. “We can make those adjustments quite a bit easier because it’s all programming,” said Hamel
Homes can also be finished using more traditional methods to make them look like any other house, or people can save on costs by foregoing these extra details and painting the 3D printed product. The concrete with aggregate material used by VeroTouch resembles smooth coat stucco when finished this way.
Renovation is also possible. Hamel explained walls can be printed offsite and installed and confirmed that this is structurally sound. There can also be a mixture of 3D-printed exterior with a traditionally framed interior. Customizability is key.
What parts of the home are 3D printed?
Detail of a VeroTouch 3D Printed Home in process. VeroTouch courtesy photo
The forms for foundations and walls are printed. Hamel reported creating twenty-two inches of stem wall in three-and-a-half hours of printing. He also explained this form of construction comes with “low physical burden labor” and opens the doors to greater diversity in the workforce.
VeroTouch believes their automation engineer Ashley Fant is the first female print operator in the country. “We can talk more about how this industry is injecting new exciting talent into the construction world, pulling from other places because people are just excited about this technology,” commented Hamel.
Though printing times are comparable to traditional building times, Hamel explained that it reduces complexity in the construction process.
“The difference is it reduces the subcontractor costs; if you do it in-house, all those other points along your project management, it makes it easier. Since you’re planning everything ahead of time, which you have to do, which is a little bit different than what construction typically does. . . As we’re going up we can start building those components [electrical, plumbing, conduit, etc.] as we go. So it’s kind of like a holistic manufacturing thing.”
Just like any other construction company, VeroTouch has standards they must meet during the building process. They have had their material tested and continue to refine it. They take in variables throughout the day and adjust the materials to meet the conditions.
“We obviously want to build homes that are better, and stronger, and that’ll last longer, so they are more sustainable for our communities over a long period of time and have a high energy rating,” explained Hamel. “We’re not just trying to meet those standards, we’re really trying to exceed them.”
How did you come to put this in Salida?
Hamel and Harvey have worked together for nearly a decade, so they came into this venture with a strong relationship and broad experiences.
“We realized we were really quite quick at getting things done and developing automated processes on the engineering and design side just to get things done faster,” said Hamel.
Hamel was initially looking to open his tech startup in Austin, Texas. But he visited some friends in the area and decided to move to Salida instead. “This is really an environment that supports entrepreneurship,” said Hamel. “Everybody says it’s rural, but it feels like a place that isn’t really rural.”
Hamel lived in Wichita and Kansas City for most of his life and Harvey hails from the suburbs of Kansas City as well, which is where they met. They decided to bring their tech startup to Chaffee County because the valley is so supportive of entrepreneurship and the environment opens up opportunities for getting to know and work with the community in ways that aren’t possible in larger cities like Denver.
What is the competitive environment for VeroTouch?
“There should always be multiple ways of solving a problem,” replied Hamel.
Looking at the field of construction, Hamel said that it hadn’t changed as much as other industries, and he believes that robots and automation is a way to fix the labor problem in the industry and generate interest in the trades again.
“It’s my belief that in X amount of years, robots will be building our homes and we wanted to be in the forefront of that area,” said Hamel.
He estimated there are probably about a dozen other companies actively doing what VeroTouch is doing now, but added the tech construction industry isn’t an easy path to take.
“We didn’t get into this because we thought that we were going to plug in a machine that was going to build 100 houses. We knew we were going to have to help develop the technology, push an industry that’s traditionally been highly labor-based into the technological age, and start reducing some of these burdens that we’re seeing across our communities.”
How are you planning to scale this operation?
VeroTouch received its equipment and began operating in the middle of 2023. While they haven’t been operating long, Hamel says their accomplishments have already been significant.
“We wanted to see that we can make it work,” said Hamel. “We’re starting to prove this out and it’s starting to really make sense and we’re starting to really understand it. We see what the needs are for the technology, how to build a company around this, and how to develop that full holistic plan for developments, and now we’re figuring out what that means and what additional pieces of technology we may need.”
How is this startup being funded?
VeroTouch has pursued grants and intends to continue to do so in the future. Currently, the company is funded entirely by Colorado-funded private equity.
Could you talk about the 5 Focal Points, one of which was education?
“My belief and the basis of our company is that we have to reinject knowledge back into industry,” replied Hamel. “Partnership with business and education is extremely important because they are providing the product for the businesses, and so businesses have to step up and say hey I’m here, how can I help.”
Hamel believes it is the responsibility of businesses to help educators and lift some of the burdens faced by teachers and schools. VeroTouch currently works with Colorado Mountain College (CMC) apprenticing a CMC graduate, and they are visiting other campuses around the area. They sponsor internships and apprenticeships to help deliver what they refer to as “high-paying, enjoyable jobs” without as much pressure to pursue the collegiate path, which has become the standard.
“What we need to do is bring business into the classroom and the students out of the classroom and into business,” declared Hamel.
Could you talk about the Ascent Accelerator Program?
Hamel and Harvey had just returned from their first three-hour session with the program before meeting with AVV. During the first session, they got the chance to meet the other cohort members.
Mock up of finished VeroTouch 3D printed homes. VeroTouch courtesy photo.
“Jake and Tim I think are some of the best people I’ve ever met in my life… I couldn’t say enough positive things about them,” said Hamel of Rishavy and Ascent Accelerator Tim Martinez.
Hamel met them before moving to Salida and cited them as among the reasons why VeroTouch decided to make their debut in Chaffee County. He also praised the Ascent Accelerator program in the area, calling it a “massive success.”
“A rural program having that type of stats on an accelerator is unbelievable. We’re very, very excited to be a part of it,” said Hamel.
The program lasts for twelve weeks and is mapped out to target priority areas for businesses including deep dives on financials, business structure, and goals. It also works to connect cohort members with the right people to get the answers needed to be better and succeed as a company.
What is your plan for this year?
Hamel and Harvey say the house in Buena Vista is more than a pilot. “We’re spending a lot of time to make it a beautiful, livable house. It’s definitely a product,” said Hamel.
“We didn’t just start printing,” explained Hamel, who broke down the process of experimentation to ensure a quality product, which sometimes includes printing something and tearing it down to do it better. VeroTouch is printing the second house next door and hopes to continue working with the public to find better ways to get into a more attainable market.
Hamel said they received some criticism about building in South Main and that not being attainable, but he explained that they understand and South Main is simply a starting point for the company. The high standards of the neighborhood have given them the freedom to experiment and find ways to create more attainable housing in the future.
The Wrap-up on VeroTouch
VeroTouch doesn’t just provide construction. “We’re a full-scale engineering and design company,” said Hamel.
They completed a site plan for a recreational complex in Poncha Springs pro bono, and are eager to provide site plans for eldercare, which is another one of their focal five issues. Their diversity of experience in manufacturing allows them to use different experiences and apply them to the construction tech industry.
“We’re a community company. Making money is very important, but Eli and I are not into this to buy land, put a bunch of houses on it, flip it, and run out of town. We’re here to see how we can build this community both from the education side, the operational side, and build the industry up, so we’re really here to do what matters and that’s where our hearts are at,” concluded Hamel.
More information on VeroTouch is available at VeroTouch.com.
Sounds like a good thing, but a noisy idea to me… Developers should be held responsible for upholding the quality of life of those around their sites rather than knowingly saving money and imposing on neighbors for every project. Our county and our city here in Salida do not research any such thing and seem to say yes to anything that has $$.
This is really, really cool technology!
“Disrupting labor and housing shortages”,
“educating the next generation of builders”,
“working for the sustainability of your community.”
“Timely and Cost-Effective Solutions”
What’s not to like?
What’s not to like:
The loss of the kinds of jobs and economy that distributed income and wealth equitably.
The terrifying concentration of wealth of the Dark Ages.
Monotonous high-tech jobs for the few, desperation and Fentanyl for the many.
Wealth accumulation only possible for those with accumulated wealth.
We solved the labor and housing shortage in the 50s and 60s by creating construction and factory jobs that shared the wealth, with people based, as opposed to technology-based jobs. Technology-centric social designs eliminate jobs and carry us back to the bad old days when only the wealthy could accumulate and retain wealth.
Hear, hear! Well said. I still think that it is not too late to save the buggy whip industry if we really care enough to try.
Thanks Jeff. I guess I just forgot about that old buggy whip line.
Wave of the future on the banks of the Arkansas!