The company was founded in 1925 when Petros Tangalakis partnered with G. Tournikiotis, a vehicle manufacturer based in Athens. In 1934, Tangalakis split from Tournikiotis to create his own company, which remained a leading Greek vehicle producer for nearly three decades. During the occupation of Greece in World War II, the factory was forced to be under German control. Vehicle production resumed in 1945.
The following years are sometimes referred to as Tangalakis' "Golden Era", where the company focused on all-metal bus construction of chassis by Studebaker, Daimler, Volvo, and other manufacturers. Several models were produced, some of which introduced extensive chassis modification to accommodate higher loads or different vehicle dimensions. The company also assembled Wayne models in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
In 1963, Tangalakis competed with other bus manufacturing companies in Greece before turning to firefighting vehicle manufacture, focusing mainly on International Harvester chassis (chassis assembled by Tangalakis from SKD kits). In 1965, the Tangalakis family, Alexandros Ginis, Fanourios Gyrtatos, & Antonis Kalogeropoulos created TEMAX, a new company entirely focused on firefighting and other specialty vehicle production, which operates to this date. Another branch of the original company continued the business under the Tangalakis name as importers and distributors of firefighting, and rescue equipment, vehicle parts, etc.[1]
"P. Tangalakis", article in "To Volan" (Greek auto magazine), July 18, 1957
A. Chronis, "P. Tangalakis", article in "Pullman&Leoforeio" (Greek commercial vehicle magazine), September 1992
L.S. Skartsis and G.A. Avramidis, "Made in Greece", Typorama, Patras, Greece (2003) ISBN960-7620-30-5 (republished by the Patras Science Park, 2007)
E. Roupa and E. Hekimoglou, "I istoria tou aftokinitou stin Ellada (History of automobile in Greece)", Kerkyra - Economia publishing, Athens (2009) ISBN978-960-8386-95-2
1936 Tangalakis-Austin light car
Inside view of 1936 Tangalakis-Austin light car
1935 Tangalakis inter-city bus (International chassis)
Inside view of a 1936 Tangalakis inter-city bus
1956 Tangalakis bus (Volvo chassis)
1962 Tangalakis coach
TEMAX fire-fighting truck on assembled International truck chassis (1965)
TEMAX old fire-fighting vehicle
TEMAX modern fire engine
Media related to Temax at Wikimedia Commons
Automotive industry in Greece