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): April 28, 2004


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


                                 (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 April 28, 2004, Kadant Inc. announced its financial results for
the fiscal quarter ended April 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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                                    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:  April 28, 2004     By: /s/ Thomas M. O'Brien
                              --------------------------------------------------
                              Thomas M. O'Brien
                              Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
                              and Treasurer




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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
  No.                    Description of Exhibit
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  99                     Press Release dated April 28, 2004





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