Duha Colour Services to move U.S. firm’s operations to Winnipeg, add 94 new jobs

Fresh off its acquisition of one of its leading U.S. competitors, Winnipeg-based Duha Colour Services Ltd. has announced it will use government grant money to expand its operations.

The federal and Manitoba governments said on Wednesday they have tabbed $160,000 for the Duha Group subsidiary — the world’s largest manufacturer of paint swatches and colour charts — to upgrade its local plant and train 136 employees.

Duha Group first announced bringing the U.S.-based Colwell Color Ltd. brand under its banner in October 2024.

It said this week it is transporting equipment and operations to Winnipeg from Colwell’s facility in Indiana. The move — and government grant — will create 94 new positions and allow the firm to train 42 current employees.

“They’ve chosen to bring their jobs back here, home to Winnipeg, to invest in new equipment and new operations here, bringing it from the United States of America to here in Manitoba, meaning more good jobs, right here at home,” said Business and Job Creation Minister Jamie Moses.

Rick Duha, the firm’s chief business officer, said the manufacturer is “doubling down our on commitment to Manitoba as the heart of our global business.”

The company was founded in 1948. Its headquarters and largest manufacturing facility are in Winnipeg, on Bradford Street, with additional operations in the U.S., China, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.

Duha said the firm sees Manitoba as having a strategic advantage.

“Its combination of skilled, hardworking talent pools, a business friendly environment and more affordable cost structures allows us to remain globally competitive, while continuing to invest in our people in our operations here at home,” he said.

Duha said the firm has already made several of the new hires. Including the new roles, the company’s current complement in Winnipeg numbers about 300 employees. He expects about 20 more hires to be made before the end of the fiscal year.

The new jobs are positions across the firm’s manufacturing division, as well as some in its front-end office.

The money comes via the Canada-Manitoba Labour Market Transfer Agreement.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca