1. The segment occupied by cam operated machines both single and multi-spindle will continue to shrink driven by the long setup times. In this regard, quadrant-setting multis such as Wickmans have an advantage over the Acme.
2. There is a diminishing pool of those who know how to design setups and also of competent toolsetters.
3. The fact that soluble oils do not agree with Arby Eight’s digestion is an economic negative.
4. Despite the above, multis operating in the range of 40 mm and below on large batch sizes will continue to be cost effective well into the future. Above 40 mm, the better metal removal rates of single point tool CNCs reduce the multi’s competitive edge which is achieved by having many tools working simultaneously. Also the relatively low maximum spindle speeds attainable on multis and the fact that it is not easy to optimise surface speeds on all spindles is a further negative.
5. Multi-slide fixed headstock CNC’s will prove more cost effective than multi-slide Swiss CNC’s because of their enhanced ability to overlap forming operations with end-working operations, but both types of multislide machines will erode both the single and multi- cam-operated segment.
6. A new generation of CNC multis could only prove cost effective if their selling price could be contained at less than three times the cost of a multislide CNC single spindle.

As one who has operated and rebuilt both single & multispindles for many years, this is what I see in my crystal ball.