News Release

ACTON, Mass., Oct 3, 2002 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Kadant Inc. (ASE:KAI) announced that its board of directors has appointed Edwin D. Healy a vice president of the company, effective October 1, 2002. In his new position, Mr. Healy is responsible for leading Kadant's worldwide stock-preparation businesses. He will also continue to serve as president of the company's Kadant Black Clawson Inc. subsidiary in Ohio, a position he has held since 2000.

Mr. Healy has been with Kadant for 14 years, and, before serving in his current role, was president of the company's Fiberprep, Inc. subsidiary for nine of those years. Fiberprep served the North American stock-preparation markets and implemented global strategies for de-inking, corrugated board, and approach-flow systems. Before that, Mr. Healy had a 29-year career with Bird, Escher, Wyss and its predecessor, Bird Machinery. He served in various engineering and sales management roles, and, during his last two years there, as a vice president. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from the University of Maine.

"Ed has made countless contributions to our company, particularly in the global application of our stock-preparation technologies, which are used for paper recycling," said William A. Rainville, chairman and chief executive officer of Kadant. "His industry expertise and strategic thinking will help us to grow our stock-preparation business worldwide."

Kadant Inc. is a leading supplier of a range of products for the global papermaking and paper recycling industries, including de-inking systems, stock-preparation equipment, water-management systems, and papermaking accessories. The company also develops and manufactures composite building materials produced from natural fiber and recycled plastic. Kadant, based in Acton, Massachusetts, reported $221 million in revenues in 2001 and employs approximately 1,100 people worldwide. For more information, please visit www.kadant.com.

The following constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such statements are set forth under the heading "Forward-Looking Statements" in the company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 29, 2002. These include risks and uncertainties relating to the company's: dependence on the paper industry, international operations, competition, ability to manufacture and distribute composite building products and the long-term performance of such products, acquisition strategy, dependence on patents and proprietary rights, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, and financial covenants and other obligations arising from the spinoff of the company from Thermo Electron Corporation. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

CONTACT: Investor contact
Kadant Inc.
Thomas M. O'Brien, 978/776-2000
or
Media contact
GreatPoint Communications, 978/392-6866

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