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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.11
                                   KADANT INC.

                      2001 EMPLOYEES EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1.      PURPOSE

        The purpose of this 2001 Employees Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is
to secure for Kadant Inc. (the "Company") and its Stockholders the benefits
arising from capital stock ownership by employees and consultants to the Company
and its subsidiaries or other persons who are expected to make significant
contributions to the future growth and success of the Company and its
subsidiaries. The Plan is intended to accomplish these goals by enabling the
Company to offer such persons equity-based interests, equity-based incentives or
performance-based stock incentives in the Company, or any combination thereof
("Awards").

2.      ADMINISTRATION

        The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company
(the "Board"). The Board shall have full power to interpret and administer the
Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan
and Awards, and full authority to select the persons to whom Awards will be
granted ("Participants"), determine the type and amount of Awards to be granted
to Participants (including any combination of Awards), determine the terms and
conditions of Awards granted under the Plan (including terms and conditions
relating to events of merger, consolidation, dissolution and liquidation, change
of control, vesting, forfeiture, restrictions, dividends and interest, if any,
on deferred amounts), waive compliance by a participant with any obligation to
be performed by him or her under an Award, waive any term or condition of an
Award, cancel an existing Award in whole or in part with the consent of a
Participant, grant replacement Awards, accelerate the vesting or lapse of any
restrictions of any Award, correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile
any inconsistency in the Plan or in any award and adopt the form of instruments
evidencing Awards under the Plan and change such forms from time to time. Any
interpretation by the Board of the terms and provisions of the Plan or any Award
thereunder and the administration thereof, and all action taken by the Board,
shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties and any person claiming
under or through any party. No Director shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith. The Board may, to the full extent permitted by
law, delegate any or all of its responsibilities under the Plan to a committee
(the "Committee") appointed by the Board and consisting of members of the Board.
All references in the Plan to the "Board" shall mean the Board or a Committee of
the Board to the extent that the Board's powers or authority under the Plan have
been delegated to such Committee.

3.      EFFECTIVE DATE

        The Plan shall be effective as of the date first approved by the Board.

4.      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

        Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10.6, the total number of
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), reserved and available for distribution under the Plan shall be 612,000
shares. Such shares may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued
shares or treasury shares.

        If any Award of shares of Common Stock requiring exercise by the
Participant for delivery of such shares expires or terminates without having
been exercised in full, is forfeited or is otherwise terminated without a
payment being made to the Participant in the form of Common Stock, or if any
shares of Common Stock subject to restrictions are repurchased by the Company
pursuant to the terms of any Award or are otherwise reacquired by the Company to
satisfy obligations arising by virtue of any Award, such shares shall be
available for distribution in connection with future Awards under the Plan.

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5.      ELIGIBILITY

        Employees and consultants to the Company and its subsidiaries, or other
persons who are expected to make significant contributions to the future growth
and success of the Company and its subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive
Awards under the Plan. Executive officers and directors shall not be eligible to
receive Awards under the Plan. The Board, or other appropriate committee or
person to the extent permitted pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2, shall
from time to time select from among such eligible persons those who will receive
Awards under the Plan.

6.      TYPES OF AWARDS

        The Board may offer Awards under the Plan in any form of equity-based
interest, equity-based incentive or performance-based stock incentive in Common
Stock of the Company or any combination thereof. The type, terms and conditions
and restrictions of an Award shall be determined by the Board at the time such
Award is made to a Participant.

        An Award shall be made at the time specified by the Board, shall be
subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be imposed by the Board and
shall conform to the general rules applicable under the Plan as well as any
special rules then applicable under federal tax laws or regulations or the
federal securities laws relating to the type of Award granted.

        Without limiting the foregoing, Awards may take the following forms and
shall be subject to the following rules and conditions:

        6.1     OPTIONS

        An option is an Award that entitles the holder on exercise thereof to
purchase Common Stock at a specified exercise price. Options granted under the
Plan are not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

        6.1.1   Option Price. The price at which Common Stock may be purchased
upon exercise of an option shall be determined by the Board.

        6.1.2   Option Grants. The granting of an option shall take place at the
time specified by the Board. Options shall be evidenced by option agreements.
Such agreements shall conform to the requirements of the Plan, and may contain
such other provisions (including but not limited to vesting and forfeiture
provisions, acceleration, change of control, protection in the event of merger,
consolidations, dissolutions and liquidations) as the Board shall deem
advisable. Option agreements shall expressly state whether an option grant is
intended to qualify as an incentive stock option or non-statutory option.

        6.1.3   Option Period. An option will become exercisable at such time or
times (which may be immediately or in such installments as the Board shall
determine) and on such terms and conditions as the Board shall specify. The
option agreements shall specify the terms and conditions applicable in the event
of an option holder's termination of employment during the option's term.

        Any exercise of an option must be in writing, signed by the proper
person and delivered or mailed to the Company, accompanied by (1) any additional
documents required by the Board and (2) payment in full in accordance with
Section 6.1.4 for the number of shares for which the option is exercised.

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        6.1.4   Payment of Exercise Price. Stock purchased on exercise of an
option shall be paid for as follows: (1) in cash or by check (subject to such
guidelines as the Company may establish for this purpose), bank draft or money
order payable to the order of the Company or (2) if so permitted by the
instrument evidencing the option (or in the case of a non-statutory option, by
the Board at or after grant of the option), (i) through the delivery of shares
of Common Stock that have been outstanding for at least six months (unless the
Board expressly approves a shorter period) and that have a fair market value
(determined in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Board) equal to the
exercise price, (ii) by delivery of a promissory note of the option holder to
the Company, payable on such terms as are specified by the Board, (iii) by
delivery of an unconditional and irrevocable undertaking by a broker to deliver
promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or (iv) by
any combination of the foregoing permissible forms of payment.

        6.1.5   Buyout Provision. The Board may at any time offer to buy out for
a payment in cash, shares of Common Stock, deferred stock or restricted stock,
an option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Board
shall establish and communicate to the option holder at the time that such offer
is made.

        6.2     RESTRICTED AND UNRESTRICTED STOCK

        An Award of restricted stock entitles the recipient thereof to acquire
shares of Common Stock upon payment of the purchase price subject to
restrictions specified in the instrument evidencing the Award.

        6.2.1   Restricted Stock Awards. Awards of restricted stock shall be
evidenced by restricted stock agreements. Such agreements shall conform to the
requirements of the Plan, and may contain such other provisions (including
restriction and forfeiture provisions, change of control, protection in the
event of mergers, consolidations, dissolutions and liquidations) as the Board
shall deem advisable.

        6.2.2   Restrictions. Until the restrictions specified in a restricted
stock agreement shall lapse, restricted stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, and upon certain
conditions specified in the restricted stock agreement, must be resold to the
Company for the price, if any, specified in such agreement. The restrictions
shall lapse at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may
specify. The Board may at any time accelerate the time at which the restrictions
on all or any part of the shares shall lapse.

        6.2.3   Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant who acquires shares of
restricted stock will have all of the rights of a Stockholder with respect to
such shares including the right to receive dividends and to vote such shares.
Unless the Board otherwise determines, certificates evidencing shares of
restricted stock will remain in the possession of the Company until such shares
are free of all restrictions under the Plan.

        6.2.4   Purchase Price. The purchase price of shares of restricted stock
shall be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion.

        6.2.5   Other Awards Settled With Restricted Stock. The Board may
provide that any or all the Common Stock delivered pursuant to an Award will be
restricted stock.

        6.2.6   Unrestricted Stock. The Board may, in its sole discretion, sell
to any Participant shares of Common Stock free of restrictions under the Plan
for a price determined by the Board, but which may not be less than the par
value per share of the Common Stock.

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        6.3     DEFERRED STOCK

        6.3.1   Deferred Stock Award. A deferred stock Award entitles the
recipient to receive shares of deferred stock, which is Common Stock to be
delivered in the future. Delivery of the Common Stock will take place at such
time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify. The Board may
at any time accelerate the time at which delivery of all or any part of the
Common Stock will take place.

        6.3.2   Other Awards Settled with Deferred Stock. The Board may, at the
time any Award described in this Section 6 is granted, provide that, at the time
Common Stock would otherwise be delivered pursuant to the Award, the Participant
will instead receive an instrument evidencing the right to future delivery of
deferred stock.

        6.4     PERFORMANCE AWARDS

        6.4.1   Performance Awards. A performance Award entitles the recipient
to receive, without payment, an amount, in cash or Common Stock or a combination
thereof (such form to be determined by the Board), following the attainment of
performance goals. Performance goals may be related to personal performance,
corporate performance, departmental performance or any other category of
performance deemed by the Board to be important to the success of the Company.
The Board will determine the performance goals, the period or periods during
which performance is to be measured and all other terms and conditions
applicable to the Award.

        6.4.2   Other Awards Subject to Performance Conditions. The Board may,
at the time any Award described in this Section 6 is granted, impose a condition
or conditions (in addition to any conditions specified or authorized in this
Section 6 of the Plan) that performance goals be met prior to the Participant's
realization of any payment or benefit under the Award.

7.      PURCHASE PRICE AND PAYMENT

        Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the purchase price of Common
Stock to be acquired pursuant to an Award shall be the price determined by the
Board, provided that such price shall not be less than the par value of the
Common Stock. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the Board may determine
the method of payment of the exercise price or purchase price of an Award
granted under the Plan and the form of payment. The Board may determine that all
or any part of the purchase price of Common Stock pursuant to an Award has been
satisfied by past services rendered by the Participant. The Board may agree at
any time, upon request of the Participant, to defer the date on which any
payment under an Award will be made.

8.      LOANS AND SUPPLEMENTAL GRANTS

        The Company may make a loan to a Participant, either on or after the
grant to the Participant of any Award, in connection with the purchase of Common
Stock under the Award or with the payment of any obligation incurred or
recognized as a result of the Award. The Board will have full authority to
decide whether the loan is to be secured or unsecured or with or without
recourse against the borrower, the terms on which the loan is to be repaid and
the conditions, if any, under which it may be forgiven.

        In connection with any Award, the Board may at the time such Award is
made or at a later date, provide for and make a cash payment to the participant
not to exceed an amount equal to (a) the amount of any federal, state and local
income tax or ordinary income for which the Participant will be liable with
respect to the Award, plus (b) an additional amount on a grossed-up basis
necessary to make him or her whole after tax, discharging all the participant's
income tax liabilities arising from all payments under the Plan.

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9.      CHANGE IN CONTROL

        9.1     IMPACT OF EVENT

        In the event of a "Change in Control" as defined in Section 9.2, as
applicable, the following provisions shall apply, unless the agreement
evidencing the Award otherwise provides (by specific explicit reference to
Section 9.2 below). If a Change in Control occurs while any Awards are
outstanding, then, effective upon the Change in Control, (i) each outstanding
stock option or other stock-based Award awarded under the Plan that was not
previously exercisable and vested shall become immediately exercisable in full
and vested, and will no longer be subject to a right of repurchase by the
Company, (ii) each outstanding restricted stock award or other stock-based Award
subject to restrictions and to the extent not fully vested, shall be deemed to
be fully vested, free of restrictions and conditions and no longer subject to a
right of repurchase by the Company, and (iii) deferral limitations and
conditions that relate solely to the passage of time, continued employment or
affiliation will be waived and removed as to deferred stock Awards and
performance Awards; performance of other conditions (other than conditions
relating solely to the passage of time, continued employment or affiliation)
will continue to apply unless otherwise provided in the agreement evidencing the
Award or in any other agreement between the Participant and the Company or
unless otherwise agreed by the Board.

        9.2     DEFINITION OF "CHANGE IN CONTROL"

        "Change in Control" means an event or occurrence set forth in any one or
more of subsections (a) through (d) below (including an event or occurrence that
constitutes a Change in Control under one of such subsections but is
specifically exempted from another such subsection):

        (a)     the acquisition by an individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership of any capital stock of the Company if, after such
acquisition, such Person beneficially owns (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act) 40% or more of either (i) the
then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Common
Stock") or (ii) the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of
the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the
"Outstanding Voting Securities"); provided, however, that for purposes of this
subsection (a), the following acquisitions of shares of Common Stock shall not
constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company, (ii) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company, or (iii)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction which complies with
clauses (i) and (ii) of subsection (c) of this definition; or

        (b)     such time as the Continuing Directors (as defined below) do not
constitute a majority of the Board (or, if applicable, the board of directors of
a successor corporation to the Company), where the term "Continuing Director"
means at any date a member of the Board (i) who was a member of the Board as of
December 10, 2001 or (ii) who was nominated or elected subsequent to such date
by at least a majority of the directors who were Continuing Directors at the
time of such nomination or election or whose election to the Board was
recommended or endorsed by at least a majority of the directors who were
Continuing Directors at the time of such nomination or election; provided,
however, that there shall be excluded from this clause (ii) any individual whose
initial assumption of office occurred as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents, by or on behalf of a
person other than the Board; or

        (c)     the consummation of a merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization or statutory share exchange involving the Company or a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in
one or a series of transactions (a "Business Combination"), unless, immediately
following such Business

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Combination, each of the following two conditions is satisfied: (i) all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners
of the Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities immediately
prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly,
more than 60% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors, respectively, of the resulting or acquiring
corporation in such Business Combination (which shall include, without
limitation, a corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company
or substantially all of the Company's assets either directly or through one or
more subsidiaries) (such resulting or acquiring corporation is referred to
herein as the "Acquiring Corporation") in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership, immediately prior to such Business Combination, of the
Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities, respectively; and
(ii) no Person (excluding the Acquiring Corporation or any employee benefit plan
(or related trust) maintained or sponsored by the Company or by the Acquiring
Corporation) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 40% or more of then
outstanding shares of common stock of the Acquiring Corporation, or of the
combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or

        (d)     approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

10.     GENERAL PROVISIONS

        10.1    DOCUMENTATION OF AWARDS

        Awards will be evidenced by written instruments, which may differ among
Participants, prescribed by the Board from time to time. Such instruments may be
in the form of agreements to be executed by both the Participant and the Company
or certificates, letters or similar instruments which need not be executed by
the participant but acceptance of which will evidence agreement to the terms
thereof. Such instruments shall conform to the requirements of the Plan and may
contain such other provisions (including provisions relating to events of
merger, consolidation, dissolution and liquidations, change of control and
restrictions affecting either the agreement or the Common Stock issued
thereunder), as the Board deems advisable.

        10.2    RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER

        Except as specifically provided by the Plan or the instrument evidencing
the Award, the receipt of an Award will not give a Participant rights as a
Stockholder with respect to any shares covered by an Award until the date of
issue of a stock certificate to the participant for such shares.

        10.3    CONDITIONS ON DELIVERY OF STOCK

        The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the Plan or to remove any restriction from shares previously
delivered under the Plan (a) until all conditions of the Award have been
satisfied or removed, (b) until, in the opinion of the Company's counsel, all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations have been complied with, (c)
if the outstanding Common Stock is at the time listed on any stock exchange,
until the shares have been listed or authorized to be listed on such exchange
upon official notice of issuance, and (d) until all other legal matters in
connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been approved by
the Company's counsel. If the sale of Common Stock has not been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company may require, as a condition
to exercise of the Award, such representations or agreements as counsel for the
Company may consider appropriate to avoid violation of such act and may require
that the certificates evidencing such Common Stock bear an appropriate legend
restricting transfer.

        If an Award is exercised by the participant's legal representative, the
Company will be under no obligation to deliver Common Stock pursuant to such
exercise until the Company is satisfied as to the authority of such
representative.

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        10.4    TAX WITHHOLDING

        The Company will withhold from any cash payment made pursuant to an
Award an amount sufficient to satisfy all federal, state and local withholding
tax requirements (the "withholding requirements").

        In the case of an Award pursuant to which Common Stock may be delivered,
the Board will have the right to require that the participant or other
appropriate person remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy the
withholding requirements, or make other arrangements satisfactory to the Board
with regard to such requirements, prior to the delivery of any Common Stock. If
and to the extent that such withholding is required, the Board may permit the
participant or such other person to elect at such time and in such manner as the
Board provides to have the Company hold back from the shares to be delivered, or
to deliver to the Company, Common Stock having a value calculated to satisfy the
withholding requirement.

        10.5    TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS

        Except as may be authorized by the Board, in its sole discretion, no
Award (other than an Award in the form of an outright transfer of cash or Common
Stock not subject to any restrictions) may be sold, assigned, transferred,
pledged or otherwise encumbered other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and during a Participant's lifetime an Award requiring exercise
may be exercised only by him or her (or in the event of incapacity, the person
or persons properly appointed to act on his or her behalf). The Board may, in
its discretion, determine the extent to which Awards granted to a Participant
shall be transferable, and such provisions permitting or acknowledging transfer
shall be set forth in the written agreement evidencing the Award executed and
delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Participant.

        10.6    ADJUSTMENTS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS

        (a) In the event of a stock dividend, stock split or combination of
shares, or other distribution with respect to holders of Common Stock other than
normal cash dividends, the Board will make (i) appropriate adjustments to the
maximum number of shares that may be delivered under the Plan under Section 4
above and (ii) appropriate adjustments to the number and kind of shares of stock
or securities subject to Awards then outstanding or subsequently granted, any
exercise prices relating to Awards and any other provisions of Awards affected
by such change.

        (b) In the event of any recapitalization, merger or consolidation
involving the Company, any transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary
of another entity, any sale or other disposition of all or a substantial portion
of the assets of the Company or any similar transaction, as determined by the
Board, the Board in its discretion may make appropriate adjustments to
outstanding Awards to avoid distortion in the operation of the Plan.

        10.7    EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

        Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the grant of Awards will confer
upon any person any right to continued employment with the Company or any
subsidiary or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or subsidiary
to terminate any employment relationship at any time or to increase or decrease
the compensation of such person. Except as specifically provided by the Board in
any particular case, the loss of existing or potential profit in Awards granted
under the Plan will not constitute an element of damages in the event of
termination of an employment relationship even if the termination is in
violation of an obligation of the Company to the employee.

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        Whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or
government service, shall constitute termination of employment shall be
determined by the Board at the time. For purposes of this Plan, transfer of
employment between the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be deemed
termination of employment.

        10.8    OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

        The value of an Award granted to a Participant who is an employee, and
the amount of any compensation deemed to be received by an employee as a result
of any exercise or purchase of Common Stock pursuant to an Award or sale of
shares received under the Plan, will not constitute "earnings" or "compensation"
with respect to which any other employee benefits of such employee are
determined, including without limitation benefits under any pension, stock
ownership, stock purchase, life insurance, medical, health, disability or salary
continuation plan.

        10.9    LEGAL HOLIDAYS

        If any day on or before which action under the Plan must be taken falls
on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, such action may be taken on the next
succeeding day not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.

        10.10   FOREIGN NATIONALS

        Without amending the Plan, Awards may be granted to persons who are
foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or both, on such terms
and conditions different from those specified in the Plan, as may, in the
judgment of the Board, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the
Plan.

        10.11   GOVERNING LAW

        The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be
governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of
Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.

11.     TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

        The Plan shall remain in full force and effect until terminated by the
Board. Subject to the last sentence of this Section 11, the Board may at any
time or times amend the Plan or any outstanding Award for any purpose that may
at the time be permitted by law, or may at any time terminate the Plan as to any
further grants of Awards. No amendment of the Plan or any agreement evidencing
Awards under the Plan may adversely affect the rights of any participant under
any Award previously granted without such participant's consent.

As adopted and in effect as of December 10, 2001

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