Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2014	Mar. 30, 2013
Operating Activities:
Net income attributable to Kadant	$ 5,053	$ 5,284
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	127	36
Loss from discontinued operation	5	29
Income from continuing operations	5,185	5,349
Adjustments to reconcile income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	3,045	1,953
Stock-based compensation expense	1,395	1,269
Provision (benefit) for losses on accounts receivable	85	(158)
Gain on the sale of property, plant, and equipment	(96)	(78)
Other items, net	(197)	(210)
Contributions to pension plan	(270)	(270)
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	1,187	1,092
Unbilled contract costs and fees	2,065	(621)
Inventories	312	(592)
Other current assets	(813)	(829)
Accounts payable	(2,290)	83
Other current liabilities	(3,406)	(7)
Net cash provided by continuing operations	6,202	6,981
Net cash provided by (used in) discontinued operation	1	(106)
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,203	6,875
Investing Activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(2,035)	0
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(539)	(1,178)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	139	222
Other, net	1	0
Net cash used in continuing operations for investing activities	(2,434)	(956)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations	5,354	4,500
Repayments of long-term obligations	(131)	(4,750)
Purchases of Company common stock	(1,918)	(1,334)
Dividends paid	(1,389)	0
Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock	514	337
Other, net	683	303
Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operations for financing activities	3,113	(944)
Exchange Rate Effect on Cash and Cash Equivalents from Continuing Operations	110	(1,126)
Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents from Continuing Operations	6,992	3,849
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	50,032	54,553
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 57,024	$ 58,402