Applied Industrial Technologies (Cleveland, Ohio) has acquired Baleros Industriales S.A. de C.V. (Monterey, Mexico).

Baleros Industriales is a well-known distributor of bearings and power transmission equipment with four locations in Mexico: Monterey, Saltillo, Queretaro and Guadalajara. The company will continue to operate under its own name, as a part of Applied's Mexican division, Applied Mexico, S.A. de C.V.

Founded in 1960, Baleros had 2000 sales of approximately USD $6.8 million. The acquisition price was not disclosed.

General Director Mauricio Bichara will stay with the company through a transition period, after which it will be under Jose Manuel Bonilla, General Director of Applied Mexico.