Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2025	Jun. 29, 2024
Operating Activities
Net Income Attributable to Kadant	$ 50,222	$ 55,980
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	854	579
Net Income	51,076	56,559
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,082	23,730
Stock-based compensation expense	5,820	5,299
(Recovery of) provision for bad debts	(44)	311
Other items, net	3,783	1,899
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable	(3,126)	(7,282)
Contract assets	7,665	(5,062)
Inventories	(14,804)	225
Other assets	(2,778)	(2,339)
Accounts payable	(608)	13,985
Customer deposits	9,360	(17,744)
Other liabilities	(17,109)	(18,684)
Net cash provided by operating activities	63,317	50,897
Investing Activities
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	(291,575)
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment	(7,804)	(11,245)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	166	1,302
Other investing activities	698	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(6,940)	(301,518)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations	8,000	295,211
Repayment of short- and long-term obligations	(56,930)	(59,089)
Tax withholding payments related to stock-based compensation	(6,056)	(5,868)
Dividends paid	(7,766)	(7,153)
Proceeds from issuance of Company common stock	2,101	1,605
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests	(825)	(1,346)
Acquisition of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	0	(523)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(61,476)	222,837
Exchange Rate Effect on Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	6,341	(3,491)
Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash	1,242	(31,275)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period	95,946	106,453
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period	$ 97,188	$ 75,178