<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-15
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>l01006aexv15.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-15  LETTER FROM INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
<TEXT>
<PAGE>




                                                                      EXHIBIT 15

May 9, 2003


Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.
One Applied Plaza
Euclid Avenue at East 36th Street
Cleveland, Ohio 44115


We have made a review, in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, of the unaudited interim financial
information of Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc. and subsidiaries for the
periods ended March 31, 2003 and 2002, as indicated in our report dated May 9,
2003; because we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that
information.

We are aware that our report referred to above, which is included in your
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003, is
incorporated by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 33-42623, 33-43506,
33-53401, 33-60687, 33-65509, 33-65513, 333-83809 and 333-69002 of Applied
Industrial Technologies, Inc. on Forms S-8.

We also are aware that the aforementioned report, pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the Securities Act of 1933, is not considered a part of the Registration
Statement prepared or certified by an accountant or a report prepared or
certified by an accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.




/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP




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</DOCUMENT>
