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): July 23, 2003


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


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

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  9.   Regulation FD Disclosure (Information Furnished Pursuant to Item 12.
           "Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition")

           On July 23, 2003, Kadant Inc. ("the Company") announced its financial
results for the fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2003. 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.

           In accordance with the procedural guidance in SEC Release No.
33-8216, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99
attached hereto is being furnished under "Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure"
rather than under "Item 12. Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition." 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:  July 23, 2003                 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 July 23, 2003: Kadant Announces 2003 Second
           Quarter Results










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