UPDATE 1-Nobel Biocare says buying Biocad for 26 mln euros

(Adds details, quotes)

ZURICH, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Swiss dental implant maker Nobel Biocare (NOBN.VX) said on Tuesday it is buying privately-owned Canadian prosthetics software design company BioCad for 26 million euros ($33.53 million).

Nobel Biocare, the world's largest maker of dental implants, also said in a statement it had signed an exclusive partnership with Optimet, a maker of optical scanners and a subsidiary of Israel's Ophir Optronics.

The firm said along with the acquisition and the partnership, it would introduce a broad range of new prosthetic materials and products in early 2009, to be able to broaden its offering to dental professionals.

"Nobel Biocare has created the base for the most complete, best quality oral rehabilitation platform available in dentistry today," it said. (Editing by Hans Peters)