KAI Kadant Inc.

Margins & Returns

Kadant Inc. is a global enterprise that delivers specialized technologies and custom-engineered systems across various industries. The company operates through three primary business segments. Its Flow Control segment is dedicated to the development, manufacturing, and distribution of fluid-handling equipment, including products like rotary joints, syphons, and expansion joints, as well as comprehensive steam and condensate systems. This segment also provides doctoring, cleaning, and filtration systems, alongside associated consumables such as doctor blades and water purification solutions. The Industrial Processing segment focuses on creating, producing, and selling heavy-duty machinery like ring and rotary debarkers, stranders, and chippers, in addition to logging equipment and industrial automation. It also supplies control systems, recycling equipment, and virgin pulping apparatus, serving industries such as packaging, tissue, wood products, and alternative fuels. Lastly, the Material Handling segment provides conveying and vibratory machinery, balers, and related apparatus. Furthermore, it manufactures and distributes biodegradable absorbent granules, utilized as carriers in agriculture, home and professional lawn and garden care, and for the absorption of oil and grease spills. Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Westford, Massachusetts, the company was previously known as Thermo Fibertek Inc. until its rebranding as Kadant Inc. in July 2001.