-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P3wlGqBL7DZE9I0nIeZvSv7gF6qE/9w6IWkt7panOnAn+05E4vcunR/ePLEnwpXd
 LW3SPuFdjagiMkAzOHkx5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001005477-03-004881.txt : 20031223
<SEC-HEADER>0001005477-03-004881.hdr.sgml : 20031223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031223171729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001005477-03-004881
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031223
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEALY EDWIN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001251661

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11406
		FILM NUMBER:		031071891

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ACTON PLACE STE.200
		CITY:			ACTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01720

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KADANT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886346
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SPECIAL INDUSTRY MACHINERY (NO METALWORKING MACHINERY) [3550]
		IRS NUMBER:				521762325
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ACTON PLACE, SUITE 202
		CITY:			ACTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01720
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(978) 776-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ACTON PLACE, SUITE 202
		CITY:			ACTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01720-3951

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	THERMO FIBERTEK INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar123.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-12-23</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KADANT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KAI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251661</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEALY EDWIN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE ACTON PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 202</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ACTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01720</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
        <officerTitle>VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>1100</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>12.89</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2658</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>1100</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>20.0717</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1558</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>3900</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>13.05</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5458</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>3900</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>20.0717</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1558</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (Right To Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.89</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>1100</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1994-11-28</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2006-11-28</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1100</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>0</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Employee Stock Option (Right To Buy)</value>
        </securityTitle>

        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>13.05</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>

        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-12-23</value>
        </transactionDate>
    <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
    </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>

            <transactionShares>
                <value>3900</value>
            </transactionShares>

            <transactionPricePerShare>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionPricePerShare>

            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>

        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2001-12-10</value>
        </exerciseDate>

        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-12-10</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>

            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>

            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>3900</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>36100</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>
<remarks>THE TRANSACTIONS REPORTED ON THIS FORM 4 WERE EXECUTED PURSUANT TO A RULE 10b5-1 TRADING ARRANGEMENT DATED OCTOBER 24, 2003.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by Sandra L. Lambert for Edwin D. Healy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----