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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * OBRIEN THOMAS M   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol KADANT INC [KAI] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) CFO, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT (Last) (First) (Middle) ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 03/07/2012 (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 03/10/2012   M   4,800 A (3) 28,623 D   Common Stock 03/10/2012   F   1,522 D $ 22.8 27,101 D   Common Stock 03/10/2012   M   4,800 A (4) 31,901 D   Common Stock 03/10/2012   F   1,522 D $ 22.8 30,379 D

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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

$ 0

03/07/2012

A

11,225

(1)

03/10/2015

Common Stock

11,225 (1)

$ 0

11,225

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 21.91

03/07/2012

A

14,004

(2)

03/07/2012

Common Stock

14,004 (2)

$ 0

14,004

D

Restricted Stock Unit

$ 0

03/10/2012

M

4,800

(3)

03/10/2013

Common Stock

4,800 (3)

$ 0

4,800

D

Restricted Stock Unit

$ 0

03/10/2012

M

4,800

(4)

03/10/2014

Common Stock

4,800 (4)

$ 0

9,599

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
OBRIEN THOMAS M ONE TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE WESTFORD, MA 01886			CFO, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Signatures

by Sandra L. Lambert for Thomas M. O'Brien		03/16/2012
**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, 2013, provided that the issuer meets certain performance requirements for fiscal 2012 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 7, 2013, provided the reporting person is employed by the issuer on the vesting date.
(3)	The shares represent the partial settlement under a RSU award granted 3/3/2010. One-third of the RSU vested on 3/10/2012 and was converted to common stock on a one-for-one basis on the vesting date.
(4)	The shares represent the partial settlement under a RSU award granted 3/9/2011. One-third of the RSU vested on 3/10/2012 and was converted to common stock on a one-for-one basis on the vesting date.

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