Maintaining the Standard

CLEVELAND,OH -- March 12, 2001  PRNewswire -- Applied Industrial Technologies today announced the launch of MaintenanceAmerica.com(www.maintenanceamerica.com), a new Internet commerce site consisting of more than 18,000 maintenance products targeted to commercial purchasing agents, maintenance professionals and independents.

MaintenanceAmerica.com represents more than 120 brands manufactured by 75 maintenance suppliers.  Products available include adhesives and sealants; epoxies and paints; lubrication products and equipment; cleaners, degreasers and miscellaneous chemicals; hand, power and analytical tools; general industrial products; safety products; industrial hose and accessories; pneumatic products; and power transmission and bearing products. The site is open to both current Applied customers who can charge purchases to their existing account and to new customers who can purchase using a credit card.

"Our research has indicated that the items represented on MaintenanceAmerica.com are the most widely applicable and most often Purchased products by plant managers and other maintenance professionals," said David K. Sacher, Vice President of Marketing, New Business Development and Pricing for Applied Industrial Technologies.  "We've bundled them together online in an easy-to-navigate, highly-searchable database that permits users to quickly place orders at any time."

MaintenanceAmerica.com provides security based on Microsoft's SSL encryption standard.  Key features of the site include detailed product descriptions, attributes and photography, multiple search options, order and shipping status indicators, purchase history information, shared shopping carts and varied payment options.

"In addition to allowing current Applied customers to purchase via their established credit terms, we permit corporate procurement cards as well as corporate or personal Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Offering this choice of payment methods opens MaintenanceAmerica.com to a whole group of customers beyond the traditional industrial Applied account," explained Sacher. "Now, the backyard mechanic or home improvement consumer can purchase lubricants or hand tools online and have them delivered right to their home."

MaintenanceAmerica.com stems from Applied's popular Maintenance America paper catalog which was introduced in early 2000.  The site mirrors the catalog in product offering, pricing and appearance.  The second issue of the Maintenance America catalog will be released in March 2001.