Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PAINTER JONATHAN W
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
KADANT INC [KAI] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
PRESIDENT AND CEO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
KADANT INC., ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
03/06/2013
(Street)

WESTFORD, MA 01886		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock               69,525 (3) D  
Common Stock               3 I By Son

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Unit (1) $ 0 03/06/2013   A   27,879     (1) 03/10/2016 Common Stock 27,879 (1) $ 0 27,879 D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 25.98 03/06/2013   A   42,915     (2) 03/06/2023 Common Stock 42,915 (2) $ 0 42,915 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PAINTER JONATHAN W
KADANT INC.
ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE
WESTFORD, MA 01886		   X     PRESIDENT AND CEO  

Signatures

 by Sandra L. Lambert for Jonathan W. Painter   03/08/2013
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Each Restricted Stock Unit ("RSU") represents the right to receive one share of the issuer's common stock. The RSU vests in three equal annual installations beginning on March 10, 2014, provided that the issuer meets certain performance requirements for fiscal 2013 and the reporting person is employed by the issuer on the vesting date. The maximum number of shares the reporting person may receive is 150% of the RSU amount.
(2) This stock option vests and becomes exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on March 6, 2014, provided the reporting person is employed by the issuer on the vesting date.
(3) Includes 1,105 shares acquired in an exempt transaction pursuant to the Issuer's ESPP on December 31, 2012.

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