<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-21-001001.txt : 20210106
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-21-001001.hdr.sgml : 20210106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20210106163556
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-21-001001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20210104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20210106
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20210106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Secor Thomas N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001552961

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-35083
		FILM NUMBER:		21511104

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GSI GROUP INC.
		STREET 2:		125 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVANTA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001076930
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3690]
		IRS NUMBER:				980110412
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A3
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730
		BUSINESS PHONE:		781-266-5618

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE
		STREET 2:		.
		CITY:			BEDFORD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01730

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GSI GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20050622

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GSI LUMONICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990401

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GSI LUMONICS
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990331
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001076930</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVANTA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NOVT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001552961</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Secor Thomas N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NOVANTA INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 MIDDLESEX TURNPIKE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>682</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1674</value>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>682</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
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                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>531</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>573</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>573</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31225</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) was the economic equivalent of one Novanta Inc. common share. On January 4, 2021, the RSUs were settled in Novanta Inc. common shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one Novanta Inc. common share on the first anniversary of the Grant Date (or, if such date is not a business day, on the first business day immediately following the first anniversary of the Grant Date).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Restricted Stock Units were fully vested and non-forfeitable on the Grant Date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">As of the date the reporting person ceases to be a director of the issuer, each Deferred Stock Unit will convert into a share of issuer common stock. The Deferred Stock Units were fully vested and non-forfeitable on the Grant Date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Power of Attorney on file</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John Burke, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
