    <SEC-DOCUMENT>0000886346-20-000051-index.html : 20200313
    <SEC-HEADER>0000886346-20-000051.hdr.sgml : 20200313
    <ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200313135618
    ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000886346-20-000051
    CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	PRE 14A
    PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		11
    CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20191228
    FILED AS OF DATE:		20200313
    DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200313

    FILER:

    	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:			0102

    	FILING VALUES:
    		FORM TYPE:		PRE 14A
    		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
    		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11406
    		FILM NUMBER:		20711911

    	BUSINESS ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
    		CITY:			WESTFORD
    		STATE:			MA
    		ZIP:			01886
    		BUSINESS PHONE:		(978) 776-2000

    	MAIL ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
    		CITY:			WESTFORD
    		STATE:			MA
    		ZIP:			01886

    	FORMER COMPANY:
    		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	THERMO FIBERTEK INC
    		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
    </SEC-HEADER>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>PRE 14A
    <SEQUENCE>1
    <FILENAME>a2020kaipreliminaryproxyst.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>PRE 14A
    <TEXT>
    Document 1 - file: a2020kaipreliminaryproxyst.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>2
    <FILENAME>adjavgreturnonshare.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 2 - file: adjavgreturnonshare.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>3
    <FILENAME>adjepsmetric2019.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 3 - file: adjepsmetric2019.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>4
    <FILENAME>fy2019ceotargettotalcomp01.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 4 - file: fy2019ceotargettotalcomp01.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>5
    <FILENAME>fy2019ceotargettotalcomp.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 5 - file: fy2019ceotargettotalcomp.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>6
    <FILENAME>image2.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 6 - file: image2.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>7
    <FILENAME>image3.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 7 - file: image3.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>8
    <FILENAME>image9.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 8 - file: image9.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>9
    <FILENAME>jwpdigsig.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 9 - file: jwpdigsig.jpg

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    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>10
    <FILENAME>pbrsumetric201.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 10 - file: pbrsumetric201.jpg

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>GRAPHIC
    <SEQUENCE>11
    <FILENAME>qrcode1a02.jpg
    <TEXT>
    Document 11 - file: qrcode1a02.jpg

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    </SEC-DOCUMENT>