UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549

         --------------------------------------------------------------


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): February 18, 2004


                                   KADANT INC.
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



Delaware                             1-11406                          52-1762325
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission                     (IRS Employee
of Incorporation)                  File Number)              Identification No.)


One Acton Place
Acton, Massachusetts                                                       01720
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                              (Zip Code)




                                 (978) 776-2000
               Registrant's telephone number, including area code


                                 Not Applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


                                   KADANT INC.



Item 12.   Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition

           On February 18, 2004, Kadant Inc. announced its financial results for
the fiscal year ended January 3, 2004. The full text of the press release issued
in connection with the announcement is attached as Exhibit 99 to this Current
Report on Form 8-K.

           The information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section
18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated
by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act,
except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.




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>                                   KADANT INC.

                                   SIGNATURE

           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                              KADANT INC.


Date: February 18, 2004   By: /s/ Thomas M. O'Brien
                              --------------------------------------------------
                              Thomas M. O'Brien
                              Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                              and Treasurer




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>                                   KADANT INC.

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.                 Description of Exhibit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  99                  Press Release dated February 18, 2004: Kadant Reports 2003
                      Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results



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