1 EXHIBIT 23(A) INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. 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 8, 2000, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. for the year ended June 30, 2000. /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP Cleveland, Ohio August 30, 2001