Applied Industrial (AIT) S-8 Registration of securities for employees

EXHIBIT 23(a)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. on Form S-8 of our reports dated August 6, 2004, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. for the year ended June 30, 2004.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Cleveland, Ohio

May 2, 2005