Exhibit 99.1

[LOGO] KADANT                                                               NEWS
AN ACCENT ON INNOVATION
One Acton Place, Suite 202
Acton, MA   01720


                    Kadant to Move to New York Stock Exchange


ACTON, Mass., April 28, 2003 - Kadant Inc. (AMEX:KAI) announced that it has
applied to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The
company anticipates that its common stock will begin trading on the NYSE on
Wednesday, May 14, 2003, under its current ticker symbol, "KAI." Kadant's common
stock will continue to trade on the American Stock Exchange until that date.

         William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant,
said, "Now that we are a completely independent public company, we are looking
to increase our visibility in the global investment community. We believe that
our listing on the NYSE will give us access to a broader investor base, and the
benefit of being associated with other listed firms that share our attributes -
a history of leadership, global market presence, sound business practices, and
financial strength."

         "The Exchange is privileged to welcome Kadant to its family of listed
companies," said NYSE chairman and chief executive officer Dick Grasso. "As a
long-time supplier to the pulp and paper industry, Kadant has built a global
franchise that is a recognized and respected leader in the industry. We look
forward to an outstanding partnership with Kadant and its shareholders."

         Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier of a range of products for the global
papermaking and paper recycling industries, including stock-preparation
equipment, water-management systems, and papermaking accessories. The company
also develops and manufactures composite building materials produced from
recycled fiber and plastic. Kadant, based in Acton, Massachusetts, reported $186
million in revenues in 2002 and employs approximately 1,100 people worldwide.
For more information, please visit www.kadant.com.